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Learn the wildlife of the U.S. national parks

Learn the wildlife of Badlands National Park

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712 species have research-grade observations inside Badlands National Park on iNaturalist. KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos, so you know what you're looking at before you go.

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Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta281
  2. Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota228
  3. Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus201
  4. Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides200
  5. Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia200
  6. Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia160
  7. Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus102
  8. Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris86
  9. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica72
  10. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura64

Plants

  1. Plains Pricklypear Opuntia polyacantha576
  2. Scarlet Globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea321
  3. Curlycup Gumweed Grindelia squarrosa266
  4. Saltlover Halogeton glomeratus200
  5. Hoary vervain Verbena stricta194
  6. Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis168
  7. Yellow Sweetclover Melilotus officinalis168
  8. Showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa164
  9. Crested Wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum163
  10. Rubber Rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa157

Mammals

  1. Bighorn Sheep Ovis canadensis1,202
  2. Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus868
  3. American Bison Bos bison831
  4. Pronghorn Antilocapra americana269
  5. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus265
  6. Least Chipmunk Neotamias minimus141
  7. Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii99
  8. Coyote Canis latrans78
  9. North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum30
  10. American Badger Taxidea taxus25

Insects

  1. Two-striped Grasshopper Melanoplus bivittatus54
  2. Melissa Blue Plebejus melissa40
  3. Brown-belted Bumble Bee Bombus griseocollis38
  4. Western Harvester Ant Pogonomyrmex occidentalis35
  5. Red-backed Darkling Beetle Eleodes suturalis35
  6. Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia33
  7. Golden Paper Wasp Polistes aurifer27
  8. Rough-lipped Darkling Beetle Eleodes hispilabris24
  9. Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme21
  10. Convergent Lady Beetle Hippodamia convergens19

Spiders and kin

  1. Banded Garden Spider Argiope trifasciata19
  2. Tigrosa grandis18
  3. Western Black Widow Latrodectus hesperus8
  4. Apache Jumping Spider Phidippus apacheanus7
  5. Bold Jumping Spider Phidippus audax5
  6. Marsh Orbweaver Neoscona pratensis3
  7. American Dog Tick Dermacentor variabilis2
  8. Phidippus texanus2
  9. Yellow Garden Spider Argiope aurantia2
  10. Triangulate Combfoot Steatoda triangulosa2

Reptiles

  1. Prairie Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis110
  2. Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer48
  3. North American Racer Coluber constrictor39
  4. Plains Garter Snake Thamnophis radix16
  5. Plains Hognose Snake Heterodon nasicus6
  6. Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta6
  7. Ornate Box Turtle Terrapene ornata1

Amphibians

  1. Woodhouse's Toad Anaxyrus woodhousii84
  2. Great Plains Toad Anaxyrus cognatus39
  3. Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens21
  4. Boreal Chorus Frog Pseudacris maculata10
  5. Western Tiger Salamander Ambystoma mavortium3

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the National Park Service. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.