SD-Wind+Cave+National+Park


 * =Birding in South Dakota=

Custer County
=Wind Cave National Park= The Visitor Center is located 11 miles north of Hot Springs off U.S. Hwy 385 (about one half mile west from the highway). Wind Cave National Park web site Wind Cave National Park map media type="custom" key="26942104"

Wind Cave National Park
Coordinates: 43.594, -103.461 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Wind Cave NP--Elk Mountain Campground
Coordinates: 43.5659953, -103.4965217 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Wind Cave NP--Visitor Center
Coordinates: 43.5564326, -103.4782076 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Wind Cave NP--Wind Cave Canyon Trail
Coordinates: 43.5538642, -103.4583535 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Wind Cave National Park
Too many visitors leave Wind Cave National Park knowing only half of its charms. Ironically, the half they know is the half that's not visible from the surface.

Above the spectacular underground labyrinth for which the park is named lies an unusual ecosystem with elements from both the mixed-grass prairie of the western Great Plains and the ponderosa pine forests of the Black Hills. Thus, the park plays host to plant and animal species from several distinct geographical areas—prairie falcons and meadowlarks from the grasslands coexist here with nuthatches and wild turkeys from the forests.

Wildlife could be the major draw here. Because of the park's small size and relatively large bison population, the chances of seeing bison—the so-called American buffalo—are probably better at this park than at almost any other; indeed it's often difficult to avoid the great beasts. The park's bison are descendants of 14 bison reintroduced to the park in 1913 from the New York Zoological Society.

Pronghorn, mule deer, and prairie dogs are present in large numbers—and highly visible since more than 60 percent of the park is open grassland. Elk live in the forest fringes; you probably won't see many, but if you have the good luck to come in the autumn you'll hear their eerie bugling. From http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/wind-cave-national-park/

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