Wildlife On Rapid City Properties Question (Sioux Falls, Spearfish: sale, homes, scorpions)

[AJTucson]

I can't believe I need to ask this. It is a question I never thought in a million years I would put together and I realize it may seem funny. While we await a sale on our home we are looking at property/homes in both Rapid City and Sioux Falls (we will visit there as well) and surrounding areas. We found quite a few we liked. One for the Rapid City area is in Spring Canyon Estates about 10 miles from the Rapid City airport. It is currently under contract; however, if this is something that is dealt with with one home....maybe we might encounter it again.

The views and home are awesome. There is a great picture with two turkeys on the deck. Then you move on to the next frame and there are seven rams under a shade tree. I don't know why this is freaking me out, but it is. We're used to deer, fox, etc., even a badger from our home state. Here in our current state we are far enough out to have encountered rattle snakes, tarantulas and scorpions and some unidentified lizard and we've just dealt with it. But for some reason with these rams I picture myself coming home from a 12 hour shift at the hospital and I can't pull into the driveway because the rams are there (and I respect their numbers) .

Have any SD residents encountered this? Could this possibly be the property owners own animals? Is this a problem for residents with acreage in the Rapid City area or if it is common, is it no problem? I tried the "Lyons, Tigers and Bears" thread question from a few months back, but I did not see anything like this listed. We really want a few acres if possible, so if this comes with that option I'd want to know how you live with seven rams (again, I can't believe I am asking this)? As always, any info is appreciated.

[Jammie]

HI AJ, I can't specifically tell you about the area that you're searching in, but there is a lot of wildlife once you get outside our cities. That goes for East River and West River. In fact, I've had to stop to avoid deer a couple times and I live right in a city.

Throughout time people have moved into the areas that the wildlife live in. Not many, but a few people get upset cause they eat their grass or their flowers. So that is something you'll want to consider if you decide to live outside a city. Good luck though whether you choose city limits or the country.

[AJTucson]

Hi Jammie - Thanks so much for the reply and info. I felt almost silly for asking, but if we want open acreage and this is part of the deal...so be it. I just want to know what to watch out for (like perhaps seeing 7 under a shade tree means you don't haul your lawn chair and book to that location - seriously, just kidding). Or, are they skittish like deer and they move on when they see you coming? I also want to know if it is common and how the SD residents deal with these rams. We did see a lot of deer on our trip and they were doing their fair share of munching so I do know that is part of what we'd live with (and did live with in WI). Basically, if we're going to have these visitors and it is common, then that is good to know, too.

[rjl78]

Few years back on the ranch there was a pair of mountain goats roaming about. Never got close to them... more than a 100 yards. They are around, and sightings are common, not necessarily in city limits or perhaps in west Rapid... (maybe)

I have come across Rattle Snakes, but they usually on the loosing end of that fight. Morons bringing fangs to a gun fight, or my shovel... They do nasty things to horses and dogs... And frankly I like my dogs.

[kbat]

If they're mountain goats, they're skittish. They'll take off if approached. If they're domestic sheep, they're probably escapees from a neighbor's property. In Rapid City proper I've seen turkeys, deer, foxes, squirrels, raccoons and two mountain goats, but that's about it as far as critters are concerned. Further east at our property in New Underwood, we've got most of the above plus pronghorn antelope, coyotes, prairie dogs and snakes of various types, plus the occasional rogue livestock. There are also some elk, mountain lions and solitary wolves that pass through the area, but I've not personally observed them. The coyotes in this area are shy and rarely seen, though I hear them singing at dusk.

For the most part you don't have much to worry about with the local wildlife. Watch for rattlesnakes in the summer and report any in-town mountain lion sightings to the police or wildlife managment folks. Keep on your toes for deer in the road. There are a lot of car vs. deer collisions (just got my car out of the shop after hitting one on I-90 between Spearfish and Whitewood). Those critters are like kamikaze pilots, flinging themselves in front of oncoming traffic.

[BusySocialWorker]

as long as they remain wildlife and you don't feed them etc, they should be more scared of you then you are of them... I think you will be just fine.. most people around here would consider great wildlife like that on their property an added bonus (except for the deer eating everything in sight) but we put up with that - we have five good size deer who frequent our yard and garden right here in town and we are pretty centralized in town on top of a large hill!

[AJTucson]

Thank you rjl78, kbat and busysocialworker. I have tried to further educate myself on these animals. I remember seeing the Pronghorn on our visit to CSP and the trail. I looked up mountain goats to see if that is what they are, but they have different and straighter horns. The closest I came was the Dall Sheep Ram - whiteish in color and those huge curled horns.

kbat - I am liking the idea that maybe they are escapees!! I guess if they can be domesticated then if left alone (I assure you - I would leave them be), I should be fine. Even if they're wild I would not bother them!! We have bobcats here (have seen one in ten years), so I'll definitely keep the thought that you could possibly run across an occasional mountain lion. If I see it all of South Dakota may hear my scream!!

rjl78 - I agree regarding those rattle snakes. Though we have seen one here, we had another unidentified snake ride up our garage door on April 1, 2000. My daughter brought the thing to my attention. I thought it was an April Fools joke. I was wrong. Kind hubby took care of it and moved it further out in the desert. We loved our little dog as well and thank goodness nothing wild got to her. Too many reports over the years here on animals getting bit by snakes. We'll watch out in the summer in SD.

busy - Honestly, I agree I am looking forward to having more wildlife around. I'm with you, I don't think it is the best idea to feed the wildlife either. Hubby and I just have no clue with these rams. We're doing computer searches !! I get what you're saying with the deer, we saw a lot in town as well.

I have to agree with all of you that the deer in SD are pretty brave. We had a buck and a doe just looking at us driving around SW Rapid City looking at homes (about 1 acres or so). Their two little fawns were skittish, but both mom and dad just looked at us like move along humans, we're heading for the next crabapple tree and your car is in the way!!

[WyoNewk]

I imagine this the kind of ram you're talking about -- bighorn sheep.





The top photo was taken in Badlands National Monument just south of Wall, SD on a Thanksgiving day several years ago. The bottom photo was taken at Custer State Park, just east of Custer, SD.

There was a large herd in the Badlands, and I was told they migrate there for the winter.

I haven't seen any in South Dakota outside of these two locations. Obviously they're in other places too, but I don't think it's too common. They're nothing to be concerned about. If you see them, grab your camera, click a few shots, and consider yourself lucky that you saw them.

[AJTucson]

WyoNewk - thanks so much for posting that picture. Yes, that is what they looked like. So embarrassing not knowing that !! Just when I thought most of my WI upbringing had me pretty well set for our SD move. Oh well, live and learn. I am very encouraged to learn from you as well that they are nothing to worry about. I think when we sell and move to SD that if I see them someday on my property hey, I'll just move my lawn chair - they can have the shady spot under the tree ! Seriously, thanks for the info.

[WyoNewk]

Off the top of my head, I think there are four different species of these mountain sheep. You mentioned the all-white Dall Sheep. I saw them in the high mountains when I lived in Alaska. And there's the Stone Sheep, which is found in Canada, the Bighorn Sheep in these parts, and the Desert Sheep in the Desert Southwest. I don't think there's a huge difference among any of them. The Dall and Stone are closely related, and I believe the Bighorn and Desert are very similar.

When I lived in Alaska in the late 60s-early 70s, the Dall Sheep was a highly prized trophy. My ex-wife, who normally refused to eat any wild game at all, tried some Dall Sheep meat and said it was delicious. They have eyes like a hawk and normally spend summers in the higher mountains, facing downhill watching for their predators. (Hunters usually approach from above, so hunting them is work.) I was surprised when I learned that the Black Hills has Bighorns and even more surprised when I came across a herd of 40 or so in the low elevations of the Badlands. There's a large herd at Custer State Park. I've seen ewes and lambs at lower elevations there in the spring and summer, and in the fall (October) the rams descend to the valleys. The group pictured above were probably 20 yards off the highway, and some were crossing the highway. They were butting heads... HARD! The sound of their head-butting echoed up and down the valley.

I've also seen a lot of mountain goats in the Black Hills. In fact, the last time I was at Mount Rushmore there were a couple goats within a few feet of the crowds of visitors.