Wildlife Viewing
There are opportunities to see many different types of wildlife, both within Mount Rushmore National Monument and the surrounding area.
Guide Sections
Use Wildlife Viewing's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Wildlife Viewing Details
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
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Region
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Although the main attraction at Mount Rushmore is of course the presidents, a few species of wildlife call the area home. Most notable is the population of around 200 mountain goats, which can trace their lineage back to six animals -- a gift to Custer State Park from Canada in 1924 that escaped from their pens. Also in the area are mule deer, which feed in the early morning and late evening hours. Visitors can often spy yellow-bellied marmots along the Presidential Trail during the summer, although the animals do typically hibernate from October to April.