Badlands National Park in South Dakota was created in 1939 to protect the fossils of animals that roamed this region in the past. It has also served the purpose of providing a refuge for the present wildlife of the region. The region is characterized by mixed grass prairies and dramatic earth formations from which the region gets its name. The fauna include Bison, Prairie Dog and Pronghorn in the broad grassy areas and Bighorn Sheep in the hilly regions.

photos M. Noonan