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National Wildlife Refuges are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, offering opportunities to discover nature in every season. Whether you're an avid birdwatcher, photographer, hunter, or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, there's always something to see if you know when and where to look. Wildlife activity changes throughout the year as animals respond to seasonal shifts in food availability, breeding, and raising their young. Many species also migrate, making each season a unique chance to experience different wildlife and natural events.
Timing and patience are two of the most important factors to a successful wildlife watching trip. Keep these tips in mind for a rewarding experience.
Plan your trip according to the season and time of day.
Remember that wildlife is more active in the mornings and early evenings than in the afternoon.
Noise travels easily across water. Keep voices down when approaching a viewing area to avoid scaring wildlife away before you arrive.
Use binoculars and spotting scopes to bring animals “closer” to you without disturbing them.
Bring a field guide to help identify species.
Avoid disturbing wildlife and never feed or touch wildlife.
Our Species
Mammals can be some of the most exciting wildlife to observe, but the best encounters happen when animals are given plenty of space. Keeping a respectful distance helps protect wildlife and ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. For a closer look without disturbing animals, bring binoculars, a spotting scope, or a camera with a zoom lens. While spring and early summer are especially active seasons, mammals can be seen throughout the year. There are about 49 species of mammals that can be found on the Refuge and surrounding area. Most common are white-tailed deer, skunks, red fox, coyotes, woodchucks, and numerous species of mice, shrews, and voles. With a little patience and observation, you may be rewarded with a memorable wildlife sighting.
The mix of habitats on the Refuge increase the number of species of birds likely to be seen. About 100 species nest on or near the Refuge and another 140 species have been observed during migrations. Woodlands are the best places to see warblers, orioles, vireos, and grosbeaks, as well as the small forest hawks like Cooper's and sharp-shinned. The Spring Lake Overlook trail is a good place to look for grassland species like sharp-tailed grouse, bobolinks, savannah sparrows and sedge wrens. Check the wetlands, both big and small, for red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, great blue herons, ring-billed and California gulls, great egrets, and many different types of ducks and other waterfowl. Whether you're an experienced birder or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, every season offers something new to see and hear. Learning about seasonal bird migrations can make your visit even more rewarding, as different species arrive and depart throughout the year.
Not all wildlife is easy to spot. Some fascinating creatures are smaller than a quarter and often go unnoticed. Take a closer look, and you may discover a busy world of pollinators and other insects that play an essential role in keeping our ecosystems healthy. Peak activity often occurs on calm, sunny days from early spring to late summer. Eastern South Dakota hosts a diverse community of pollinators, including native bees, bumble bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, and moths. Many of these species rely on native flowering plants for food and shelter throughout their life cycles.
Reptiles and amphibians, collectively known as herpetofauna, or "herps," offer unique wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the area. Eight species of amphibians and nine species of reptiles have been documented here. Visitors may spot northern leopard frogs, chorus frogs, and tiger salamanders in wetlands, especially during spring and early summer. Common reptiles include garter snakes, red-bellied snakes, painted turtles, and snapping turtles, which are often seen basking on logs, along shorelines, or moving through nearby grasslands. Herps are an important part of South Dakota's ecosystems and can be fascinating to observe. For the best viewing opportunities, move slowly, watch carefully around wetland edges and sunny basking areas, and listen for the calls of frogs during the breeding season.
While fish may not be the first wildlife that comes to mind when visiting for wildlife viewing, they are an important part of the region's aquatic ecosystems and offer another way to connect with local wildlife. Changes in water levels during the 1990s helped transform many local lakes and wetlands, creating habitat for a variety of fish including several warm-water species. Today, visitors may find healthy populations of yellow perch, northern pike, and walleye in many area waters. These species play an important role in the food web and contribute to the diversity of wildlife found throughout the area. Although fish are often hidden beneath the surface, visitors can observe signs of their presence along shorelines, in shallow water, and through the activity of fish-eating birds such as pelicans, herons, cormorants, and eagles. Taking time to explore lakes, wetlands, and fishing access areas can provide a unique perspective on the rich aquatic life found here.
