Animals

A yellow-bellied marmot, facing away from the photographer, enjoys some morning sun on a granite outcrop.  The green needles and branches of a young ponderosa pine tree and the trunk of a mature ponderosa pine tree are in the background.
A yellow-bellied marmot enjoys some morning sun on a granite outcrop.

NPS

Enjoy Wildlife ...Safely

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is home to a large variety of wildlife, some of which you may encounter during your visit. As a visitor to this habitat, take some time to learn about the wildlife and remember to respect their need for space while viewing them.

While some animals may spend part of the year close to roads and developed areas where they are easy to observe, remember to enjoy them from a distance. Wild animals may appear to tolerate people, but approaching too close can cause them stress and disturb them from their rest, natural feeding areas, and travel routes.

As you view and photograph wildlife, use binoculars or a telephoto lens to improve your view, instead of moving closer. Keep the animal's line of travel or escape route clear. If wildlife approaches you, move away. Allow other visitors a chance to enjoy wildlife. If your actions cause an animal to flee, you are too close and have deprived other visitors of a viewing opportunity.

Please remember not to feed wild animals. Animals have their own sources of food with the proper nutrition in the park;your food can only hurt them. Wrappers and plastic bags that human food is packaged in are often eaten by wildlife, which can cause serious health problems or even death.

Feeding wildlife can also cause them to lose their fear of people. Once habituated, these animals often become increasingly aggressive. Because they are still wild, they remain unpredictable and may strike out with antlers, horns, teeth, hooves, or claws without warning. Your close interaction with wildlife may seem like a positive experience, but you could be setting someone else up for injury. Many people are injured each year by animals that have begun to EXPECT humans to feed them.

As you visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, please remember:

  • Do not approach wild animals.

  • Do not feed wild animals.

By following these rules, you will help protect the animals here in their natural home. This will allow many generations of visitors to safely experience the thrill of seeing them in a natural state.

 
A northern leopard frog sitting among cattails.
Amphibians

Learn more about some of the amphibians found at Mount Rushmore.

A white-breasted nuthatch near the base of a ponderosa pine tree.
Birds

View some of the birds you might see at Mount Rushmore.

A mountain goat standing on a large granite outcrop.
Mammals

Learn more about some of the mammals found at Mount Rushmore.

 

Select a Park:

Select a Species Category (optional):

List Differences

Search results will be displayed here.


Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.

 

Wildlife Studies

Loading results...
    Tags: bat ngpn

    Last updated: January 23, 2023

    Park footer

    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    13000 Highway 244
    Building 31, Suite 1

    Keystone, SD 57751

    Phone:

    605 574-2523
    Park information. Please leave a voicemail and the park will return your inquiry as soon as possible.

    Contact Us