You Can’t Outrun These South Dakota Animals
Meet South Dakota's Fleet-Footed Creatures: Pronghorns, Coyotes, And More
17 Animals You Can Hunt All Year in South Dakota
Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns
20 Fascinating Photos Of Zoo Animals Getting Weighed and Measured
Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll
These South Dakota animals are surprisingly fast. We didn't ask Sheriff Buford to clock them with a radar gun, but A-Z Animals gave us some eye-opening speeds.
Pronghorn
These fellas can run fast and have been clocked at 61 mph! They have endurance, too, meaning they'll last much longer than you on a good run. Thankfully, they're not people hunters!
Coyotes
Even the running backs on the USD Coyotes football team would envy this speed. Coyotes have been known to run 43 mph! Which is fast enough to catch any rabbit.
Prairie Dogs
They're cute and there's plenty of places in western South Dakota to see them. Usually, prairie dogs scurry from hole-to-hole, but if they feel threatened they can hit 35 mph on the radar! Impressive for their short and stubby legs.
Bison
How many times have we heard a news report that a tourist tried to get a selfie with a buffalo? There's even posters and memes-a-plenty that say "Don't Pet Our Fluffy Cows!" But alas, these warning go unheeded and often ends with injury or death. Bison can run up to 35 mph. Impressive considering they can weigh over a ton. So go ahead. Take your chances with a furry Volkswagen - but don't say we didn't warn you.
Bighorn Sheep
If a bighorn sheep headbutted you, you'd probably whiz yourself forget your name for a while. They're also surprisingly fast clocking in at 20 mph!
Mountain Goat
Found on the western side of South Dakota, these spry, sure-footed beasts run at about 15 mph. Sure, some humans can sprint faster than that but the mountain goat will out-climb us any day.
Ringneck Pheasant
South Dakota's state bird can run up to 10 mph but it's airborne speed is awesome. They can fly up to 45 mph which is probably why I miss a few even with my trusty over-and-under 20-gauge.