Wind Cave National Park has more than 28,000 acres of Ponderosa pine forest and grass prairie where wildlife thrive. Animals frequently seen include bison, coyote, pronghorn, elk and prairie dogs. There are also more than three dozen birds listed as common on the park’s bird list.
Bison Herd
There are 400-450 bison in Wind Cave, which has large areas of prairie making a near perfect habitat for the herd. It started from 14 bison donated by the New York Zoological Society in 1913 and six from Yellowstone in 1916. Because of its roots, it is one of the only federal herds free of cattle genes. If you are searching for the herd of American buffalo, try US 385, SD 87, and primitive roads 5 & 6.
Prairie Dogs
There is a prairie dog town about a half mile south of the visitor center at the intersection of the visitor center road with US 385. There is a related interpretive exhibit about 1.4 miles north of the visitor center at the junction of US 385 and SD 87.
Elk
Elk are the most populous large mammal in the national park. Although original to the area, they were reintroduced in 1914 from 14 animals from the Jackson Hole herd of Rocky Mountain elk. There are now more than 900 in Wind Cave National Park.
The best time to see them is at dawn or dusk. Many are seen by people on the Boland Ridge Trail, a 2.6 mile hike that offers panoramic views of the Black Hills and the Great Plains.
Birds
Wind Cave is a popular place for birding. There can be as many as 100 or so bird species in the park. In the winter after the migration happens, it can drop down to around 30. There has even been an annual bird count on Christmas for around twenty years.
Wind Cave Canyon is considered one of the best places in the park for bird watching, with many species living amongst the dead trees and limestone cliffs. There is an easy 1.8 mile trail that begins on the east side of Highway 385, one mile north of the southern access to the Visitor Center.