Badlands Wildlife
In addition to spectacular views, the Badlands are home to a variety of wildlife. Bighorn sheep, bison, bobcats, black-tailed prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, and the rocky mountain bluebird among a much larger list. Sometimes you get surprised looking up at the agile bighorn sheep walking along a rocky ridgeline above you. Other times you’ll see them out in the distance.
While there is wildlife throughout the park, a drive down the unpaved Sage Creek Rim Road will take you to Roberts Prairie Dog Town. It was named after a family who once tried to homestead the area but is now home to thousands of these chubby members of the rodent family.
One last story… I had setup for sunset up this little hill and here comes this bighorn sheep ewe and lamb feeding near the pullout for cars. They then started making it up the same hill I climbed up. I did manage to slowly backup but there was little room to go anywhere else. Fortunately, they turned down another ridge line just 10-15 feet from where I left my tripod. Amazing encounter.
Here are a few photos of some of the wildlife in the Badlands. As always, click on the photo to bring them up in a lightbox to scroll through. Enjoy!
