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| South Dakota |
South Dakota has six National Wildlife Refuges and six
Wetland Management Districts.
Huron WMD has the greatest abundance and diversity of prairie wetlands in eastern South Dakota. This vast array of prairie plants and animals offers excellent environmental education, wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities.
Tall cottonwoods, combined with the availability of a primary diet of fish, make the Karl Mundt NWR ideal habitat for nesting and wintering bald eagles. While the Refuge is closed to the public, these impressive birds may be seen from an observation point below the Fort Randall Dam.
The wetlands at Lacreek NWR provides a staging area for ducks, geese, sandhills cranes, raptors, and shorebirds during spring and fall migration in western South Dakota. The Refuge is an ideal place to view wildlife at close range.
Lake Andes NWR and WMD provides viewing opportunities for nearly every species of bird or mammal indigenous to the Prairie Pothole Region.
Madison WMD is located in the heart of the Prairie Pothole\Tall Grass Prairie ecosystem. The picturesque prairie landscape inspired early pioneers such as author Laura Ingalls Wilder and artist Harvey Dunn.
Sand Lake NWR has the distinction of being designated a "Wetland of International Importance". The honor comes from the tremendous value the Refuge provides to colonial nesting birds and water birds including egrets, herons, white-faced ibis, grebes, gulls and terns. The only confirmed nesting of the common moorhen in the state of South Dakota is at Sand Lake, and the Refuge has been home to the world's largest nesting colony of Franklin's gulls.
Waubay NWR and WMD offer a spectacular vista of forested islands, lakes, wetlands, and grasslands in the heart of the scenic Prairie Coteau (prairie hills) Region.
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