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Badlands National Park Students hiking in the Badlands
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Badlands National Park
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January 27, 2011
Saber Tooth Cat Fossil Undergoes CT Scan
A 33 million year old saber tooth cat fossil met state-of-the-art 21st century technology at Rapid City Regional Hospital (RCRH) today. Badlands National Park, in partnership with RCRH, completed a CT scan of the well preserved skull.

December 15, 2010
Holiday Visitor Center Closures Announced for Badlands National Park
Superintendent Eric Brunnemann has announced that the Ben Reifel Visitor Center at Badlands National Park will be closed on Friday, December 24; Saturday, December 25; Friday, December 31; and Saturday, January 1.

November 24, 2010
Visitor Center Closures Announced for Badlands NP
Superintendent Eric Brunnemann has announced that the Ben Reifel Visitor Center at Badlands National Park will be closed on Wednesday, December 1.

November 18, 2010
New Alternative Energy System at Badlands National Park
A new alternative energy system will become operational at Badlands National Park on November 19th.

August 31, 2010
Fall Prescribed Burn Planned
Fire crews from Badlands National Park and the Northern Great Plains Fire Office are preparing for a planned 2,213-acre burn that is expected to take place sometime between September 7 and mid-October.

August 10, 2010
Researchers Study Badlands Erosion Rates
Researchers have begun a three year study that aims to answer the question, “How fast are the Badlands eroding?”

August 03, 2010
Aerial Spraying at Badlands National Park Complete
Aerial herbicide application for management of invasive weeds is complete for 2010.

July 22, 2010
Badlands Heritage Celebration
Badlands National Park’s Division of Resource Education will hold the 2nd Annual Heritage Celebration on Saturday, July 31, 2010, from 9:30am to approximately 11:00pm.

July 19, 2010
Eric J. Brunnemann named Superintendent for Badlands National Park
Eric J. Brunnemann, currently Superintendent at Pinnacles National Monument (NM), Paicines, Calif., has been named the new Superintendent of Badlands National Park, Interior, S.D.

June 29, 2010
Junior Ranger Discovers Important Saber Tooth Cat Fossil
On May 30th, seven year old Kylie Ferguson discovered some fossils while participating in a junior ranger program at Badlands National Park.

May 27, 2010
Exotic Plant Management Team Training Held at Badlands
Training for the Northern Great Plains Exotic Plant Management Team was held at Badlands National Park from May 17th through May 20th.

May 14, 2010
Badlands Loop Rd Hwy 240 Road Construction Continues
Road construction to replace culverts and repave the Badlands Loop Road (Hwy 240) is continuing within the park, but has been occasionally delayed by spring weather.

July 15, 2009
Fee Free Weekends Scheduled at Badlands
Enjoy upcoming fee free weekends at Badlands

July 07, 2009
Sylvatic Plague Detected in Badlands National Park
Sylvatic plague detected for the first time in Badlands National Park's wilderness area

July 06, 2009
Summer 2009: Aerial Spraying of Badlands National Park
Aerial spraying scheduled for July to manage Canada Thistle in wilderness areas

June 15, 2009
Upcoming Fee Free Weekends at Badlands
Badlands announces fee free weekends to enjoy the park this summer

June 11, 2009
Bighorn Sheep are Lambing at Badlands National Park
Eleven healthy lambs were born to Badlands' bighorns this spring and more are expected.

June 03, 2009
Badlands Concludes Successful Education Outreach Season
Rangers from Badlands contacted nearly 6,000 students during the 2008-2009 school year.

May 22, 2009
Rockyford School Students Raise Tipi at Badlands
Local students assist the Badlands with tipi set-up

May 19, 2009
Steve Thede Named Badlands Deputy Superintendent
Steve Thede brings 25 years of National Park Service experience to Badlands

May 19, 2009
Astronomy Programs Begin May 29 at Badlands National Park
Visitors provided the opportunity to examine far-off galaxies and nebulas through first-class telescopes

May 01, 2009
Mule Deer Mortality
Wildlife managers are closely monitoring the mule deer population in the park for signs of illness

April 17, 2009
Junior Ranger Day at Badlands National Park
Children ages 5 to 12 can earn a Junior Ranger badge, patch, pin, and certificate at Badlands National Park on Junior Ranger Day, April 25, 2009.

April 17, 2009
Spring Hours at Badlands National Park
During the weekend of April 18, the Cedar Pass Lodge opens for the season and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center hours of operation get extended

March 30, 2009
National Park Service Addresses First Graduates of the Plus50 Program
National Park Service addressed the first graduating class of the Plus50 Program, an educational program offered at Western Dakota Technical Institute

March 04, 2009
Operation Dakota Peacekeeper Rangers Receive Awards
Law enforcement rangers awarded for their work and dedication to combat crime within Indian country

December 19, 2008
Badlands National Park Announces Federal Holiday Closing
Badlands National Park announces holiday closings

November 14, 2008
Badlands National Park Recognized South Dakota Air National Guard
South Dakota Air National Guard recognized for its assistance with wilderness clean-up project

September 02, 2008
South Dakota Air National Guard Assists Badlands in Wilderness Cleanup
Badlands National Park partners with South Dakota Air National Guard to remove 106,000 pounds of old fencing material from the Badlands Wilderness Area

August 13, 2008
Badlands National Park Late Summer Operating Hours
Park announces changes in hours of operation for park facilities

June 27, 2008
Astronomy Program at Badlands National Park
Visitors encouraged to explore the night skies during a new astronomy program offered at Badlands National Park

June 17, 2008
Aerial Spraying of Badlands National Park
Aerial spraying to control Canada thistle will begin Monday, June 23

May 30, 2008
Badlands National Park Awarded Junior Ranger Ambassador Grant
Badlands receives grant to enhance its Junior Ranger Program

March 13, 2008
National Park Service Schedules Open House Meetings for Badlands National Park South Unit
Badlands National Park schedules open house-style meetings to comment on the South Unit General Management Plan.

December 17, 2007
Holiday Closures Announced for Visitor Center at Badlands National Park
Holiday closures announced for Badlands National Park

November 30, 2007
Badlands Ornament Displayed on the Official White House Christmas Tree
"Holiday in the National Parks" is celebrated at the White House

October 31, 2007
Badlands Bison Roundup
Badlands National Park concludes its annual bison roundup

August 29, 2007
Key to Bighorn Sheep Genetics May Lie in Historic Skulls
Researchers ask for assistance in identifying sources of Audubon's bighorn sheep skulls for DNA analysis

August 28, 2007
Road Construction Scheduled at Badlands National Park
Road construction on Badlands Loop Road will cause delays

August 02, 2007
Public Service Announcement
Badlands National Park is seeking public comments on its Prairie Dog Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan/EA)

July 26, 2007
Public Input Encouraged in Badlands Planning Effort
Public comments and suggestions sought for the South Unit General Management Plan

July 05, 2007
Badlands National Park Fights Invasive Plants
Badlands National Park makes significant progress on the war against weeds

May 07, 2007
Enjoy an Evening of Art in the Badlands
Badlands National Park will host an evening of art with Former Artist in Residence Charlie Lyon

April 23, 2007
Badlands Virtual Experience Now Available
Students and teachers can request a free DVD-ROM copy of this virtual experience

April 17, 2007
Internship Opportunity: Spend the Summer in the Badlands
Spend the summer in Badlands as a summer naturalist intern

March 08, 2007
Badlands National Park Seeks Public Input
Park seeks public input on proposed changes to the park's entrance fee for 2008

March 01, 2007
Announcing Badlands National Park Annual Photo Contest
Enter Badlands National Park's Photo Contest; the winner's photo will be featured on the park's 2008 annual pass

February 09, 2007
President's Fiscal Year 2008 NPS Budget Proposal to Impact Park Operations at Badlands
Increase in operational funding will affect Badlands National Park

February 05, 2007
National Park Service Provides Funding for Rural Fire Assistance
Kadoka Volunteer Fire Department receives funding from the National Park Service in conjunction with Badlands National Park

December 20, 2006
Search for Missing Man Ends
Search for missing man ends in Badlands Wilderness Area

December 20, 2006
Search for Missing Man Continues at Badlands
Search continues for man missing in Badlands National Park

December 05, 2006
Holiday Open House and Bison Presentation
Superintendent Dr. Paige Baker extends invitation to attend a Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 12.

November 03, 2006
Volunteer "Teamsters" Repair Historic Dam in Badlands National Park
Members of the Sunday Drivers Club will repair historic dam in the Badlands Wilderness Area

October 27, 2006
Another Successful Bison Roundup at Badlands National Park
For the third year in a row, local ranchers and park employees rounded up bison in the Badlands Wilderness Area.

October 10, 2006
New Badlands Films Available for Purchase
New park films are now available for purchase

September 18, 2006
Badlands National Park Lifts Smoking Ban
Superintendent Dr. Paige Baker lifts smoking ban

September 13, 2006
Badlands National Park Preparing Prairie Dog Management Plan and Environmental Assessment
Preparation of Prairie Dog Management Plan and Environmental Assessment is under way

August 30, 2006
Public Input Sought on Environmental Assessment
Public Input Sought on Environmental Assessment for Phases III and IV of the Badlands National Park Loop Road Rehabilitation Project

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The rugged badlands topography

Did You Know?
To the Lakota, this harsh and desolate landscape was known as "mako sica," meaning “land bad." Early French trappers similarly described the area as “bad lands to travel across." Today, geologists consider all the places in the world with similar topography and formation badlands.

Last Updated: August 12, 2010 at 12:20 MST