Discover the Drama: Top 9 Unbelievable Fun Facts About the Badlands

1. Nature's Time Capsule

Talk about a trip through time: The Badlands is nature's ultimate time capsule, with each rock layer belonging to a different geologic period, ranging from the 75-69 million-year-old Pierre Shale—home to sea-dwelling ammonites and mosasaurs—to the 34-30 million-year-old Brule Formation, where land grazers and predators like oreodonts and nimravids roamed the cooler, drier Earth.
Source => nps.gov

2. Real Estate Bonanza

Who knew the Badlands was the one-stop-shop for settlers looking to grab a piece of the American Dream? This real estate bonanza served up acres upon acres – à la carte: In 1909, the Enlarged Homestead Act dished out 320-acre parcels of land to eager settlers, later topped off with the Stock-Raising Homestead Act of 1916 that offered even bigger slices of land for the ranching aficionados.
Source => nps.gov

Discover the secret behind valleys' undeniable allure and their prime role in shaping human settlements throughout history, as they offer life's essentials like water, fertile soil, and food sources. Unveil the hidden connection between scenic beauty and ancient civilizations! ✨

=> Fun Facts about Valleys

3. Fossil Party Central

Whoever said "fossil collecting is a snooze-fest" never got to party with the prehistoric posse in the Badlands: The national park is a treasure trove of ancient mammal and dinosaur fossils, including those from the Late Cretaceous period 75 million years ago, shedding light on the area's intriguing geological history and the fascinating creatures that once ruled the land.
Source => geologyscience.com

4. Prehistoric Reunion

Roll up your sleeves and brace yourselves for a prehistoric reunion unlike any other: the Badlands of South Dakota houses one of the largest collections of fossil mammals in the world, featuring ancient stars like brontotheres, oreodonts, entelodonts, rabbits, rodents, and carnivores – all preserved in magnificent rock formations that whisper tales of climate change and thriving biodiversity from millions of years ago.
Source => blackhillsvisitor.com

5. Prairie Dog MVPs

Whoever said, "Misery loves company," must have had prairie dogs in mind: these tiny critters, often considered pesky varmints, are actually MVPs of the Badlands ecosystem! Seriously though: prairie dogs' burrowing and grazing habits boost soil aeration and nutrient cycling, resulting in greater plant diversity and sustenance for fellow herbivores, while providing a cozy Airbnb to endangered species like the black-footed ferret and burrowing owls.
Source => researchgate.net

6. Wild Animal Hollywood

Who needs a zoo when you've got nature on steroids? Welcome to Badlands National Park: Home to bison, bighorn sheep, coyotes, black-footed ferrets, golden eagles, prairie falcons, and more, all thriving in the rugged yet stunning mixed-grass prairie ecosystem, waiting to put on a fantastic live-show for visitors hiking or driving through their Hollywood-esque habitat.
Source => nps.gov

7. Bison Avengers

Who says bison can't multitask? These hoofed herbivores are basically ecological Avengers, restoring balance to their grassy kingdoms: Bison in Badlands National Park graze on native grasses and till the soil, creating a thriving ecosystem that benefits prairie dogs, endangered black-footed ferrets, and even majestic birds of prey and coyotes. Thanks to conservation efforts, more than 1,200 of these hairy heroes call the park home.
Source => defenders.org

8. Hidden Rainbow

It seems the Black Hills had us blind-sighted with a game of shadow puppets, for they hold a rainbow of secrets within: Contrary to their name, these South Dakota hill ranges are not actually black, but rather adorned with a dazzling palette of greens, reds, grays, browns, and golds, with their granite rocks even turning shades of orange and purple during sunsets.
Source => travelsouthdakota.com

9. Energizer Pronghorns

Pronghorns in the Badlands must have taken notes from the Energizer Bunny, because they just keep going and going: These speedy mammals can reach up to 55 mph, and their true talent lies in their incredible endurance – allowing them to outrun predators like coyotes and mountain lions for hours on end, making them quite the spectacle in Badlands National Park.
Source => summitpost.org