The Badlands National Park is also a reintroduction site of the endangered black-footed ferret, one of the world’s rarest mammals. Modern-day mammals, such as bison, antelope, big horn sheep, deer, and swift foxes, roam the 244,000 acres of The Badlands National Park, comprising the largest expanse of protected prairie land in the National Park system. Scientists studying the South Dakota Badlands have discovered the remains of ancient three-toed horses, tiny deer-like creatures, turtles, a saber-toothed cat, and ancient hornless rhinoceroses. Scavengers were drawn to the area to feed on the remains, and often met the same demise. The soft, sedimentary ground caused many of these creatures to become bogged down, and they often perished in the heat before water could be located. The harsh landscape, rough terrain, and scarcity of water all contributed to make the Badlands one of the world’s richest mammal fossil beds, containing fossil remains from the Eocene-Oligocene epoch, referred to as “The Golden Age of Mammals.” Scientists believe that 33 million years ago, a watering hole was located in the Badlands and that a drought forced mammals to travel long distances to locate water. These trappers referred to the site as “les mauvaises terres a traverser,” which translates in English to “bad lands to travel across.”
The Sioux referred to the area as “mako sica,” meaning “land bad.” In 1743, the first white men to cross the terrain were French-Canadian trappers. Located in southwest South Dakota, The Badlands National Park was named for the Native American Sioux’s description of the harsh terrain.
The Badlands National Park is an ever-changing, wondrous work of natural art. Rainfall, wind, and perpetual freezing and thawing erode approximately one inch of topsoil per year and continue to reveal more ancient mysteries including fossils and ancient artifacts. The buttes, pinnacles, and spires formed by winds and glacial erosion more than 35 million years ago enchant the over one million annual visitors to The Badlands National Park. One of the most popular attractions in western South Dakota, the Badlands National Park provides its visitors dazzling views of beautiful, striking rock-like formations.
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