Badlands National Park makes for a unique and interesting place to observe and photograph wildlife. The striking landscape provides for handsome backdrops to observe wild animals in their natural habitat.

Bison are one of the most popular animals in Badlands National Park, reintroduced to the Sage Creek area in 1963. Bighorn sheep also were reintroduced to the park in 1964, and now thrive among the rugged terrain. Pronghorn still speed across the prarie sections of the park as they always have. Badlands National Park is home to mule deer, whitetail deer and also makes for an excellent place to observe raptors and prarie dogs.

Bighorn Sheep: Door Trail, Pinnacles Overlook
Bison: Sage Creek Rim Road
Coyote: All over park
Prarie Dogs: First section of Sage Creek Rim Road to right of road
Pronghorn: Prarie areas

If you have a standard 3x zoom and you would like to obtain some images of Badlands National Park wildlife, your best bet is to head to the Sage Creek Rim Road area. You have a good chance of seeing bison, bighorns and prarie dogs here within minutes of each other. Those with DSLR's will want a zoom range from 18-100mm. Those interested in photographing some of the bird life in Badlands National Park (will need at least 300mm). Never approach wildlife,and always allow plenty of room.

If you are looking to photograph landscapes in Badlands National Park , your best bet is the low light hours as the midday sun is harsh. The movement of light in the canyons and prarie edges can help to create some beautiful images.