Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Wildlife Viewing (U.S. National Park Service)

"...lands, where the ground is roughest, and where there is some cover, even though scattered and scanty, are the best places to find the black-tail (mule deer)."

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is well supplied with watchable wildlife. What you see depends on the season, your patience and luck. Binoculars are helpful, but not essential.

Remember: all wildlife in the park are wild and potentially dangerous. Keep a safe distance from all wildlife. Some animals like bison, horses, and prairie dogs may seem tame, but they are truly dangerous wild animals. People who get too close to them may be gored by antlers and horns or trampled or bitten by sharp teeth. You should not get closer than 100 yards to bison and horses or closer than 25 yards to other wildlife. Use binoculars or telephoto lenses for safe viewing and to avoid disturbing them. If an animal moves away from you as you approach, you are too close! Respect all wildlife. The park is their home.

Also:

Keep pets in your vehicle. Pets may scare wildlife, and wild animals can hurt pets.
Use of wildlife calls and spotlights is illegal. They stress animals and alter their natural behavior.
Drive slowly. Watch for animals crossing the road. Deer, elk, pronghorn, and horses are seldom alone. If you see one animal, look for others that may follow.

Bison	Roam throughout the park and should be given a wide berth if met along the trail. Check at the visitor centers to learn those areas bison frequent and where they have been recently sighted. Learn more about these big guys.
Mule Deer	Most often seen between dusk and dawn anywhere along the park road in open areas. They usually seek shade in dense juniper groves during the heat of the day.
White-tailed Deer	Prefer thick wooded areas and river bottomlands and may be seen in the campgrounds and picnic areas in the evening and early mornings.
Elk	In the South Unit only, elk are most often seen feeding in early morning or evening on open grassland sites in the Buck Hill area and in the southeastern quarter of the park. Generally seek the shade of hardwood and juniper draws during the beat of midday.
Feral Horses	Feral (wild) horses are found in the eastern section of the South Unit only. Often visible from the park road, at Painted Canyon, and along the park boundary fence east of Painted Canyon. Horses seen in the vicinity of Peaceful Valley ranch belong to the park's trail ride concession. Find out more about these special animals.
Longhorns	North Unit only. In mornings and evenings, usually found drinking water at the bison corral located at the end of the service road spur that begins at mile marker 2.5. Check beneath cottonwoods along river during the heat of the day.
Pronghorns	Seldom seen in the North Unit. Often sighted in the open fields along U.S. Highway 85 and near the north boundary in the South Unit.
Coyotes	More often heard than seen. They usually howl once night falls and may be seen in the early mornings running anywhere across the park road.
Bobcats	Consider yourself very lucky if you see a bobcat! Only two or three are seen each summer. Look for them on the barren rocky slopes, especially at night.
Badgers	Since the badger's chief food is rodents, they are more apt to be seen near prairie dog towns at night or early mornings.
Beavers	They may be seen in Squaw Creek (North Unit) and along the Little Missouri River near the campgrounds in the evenings or during the night.
Porcupines	Usually seen in the tops of small cottonwood and ash trees feeding on twigs and bark. Often amble along roadsides at night. Drive with care.
Prairie Dogs	The park road passes through three large prairie dog towns in the South Unit. No dog towns can be seen from the North Unit road; the nearest is a one-mile hike from the Caprock-Coulee parking area. Be sure you take the right-hand turn after crossing the footbridge. What goes on in Prairie Dog Town??
Golden Eagles	Always check the sky for glimpses of soaring golden eagles along the river floodplain and at the North Unit's River Bend Overlook. Look for their large, dark-colored nests perched high on steep cliffsides.
Bald Eagles	They migrate through the area each fall.
Other Birds	Many different species of birds inhabit the park campgrounds where there is plenty of food and shelter in the thick brush and trees. Mornings and evenings provide the best viewing times. It's also good birding where two habitat zones meet such as the edge of the trees and the grasslands. View the park bird list.
Snakes	Snakes, including the poisonous prairie rattlesnake, are found frequently in the evening warming themselves on the paved surface of the road. During the hot daytime hours, they typically seek shade under bushes and rocks or in burrows. View the reptile list.
Questions?	If you have any questions about viewing wildlife, please stop in any of the visitor centers and ask a ranger. Please remember to view wildlife from a safe distance. All wildlife is protected in the park and cannot be hunted, fed or harassed. Come often and enjoy the unique opportunity to view wildlife in their natural habitat!