GossSquatch Outdoor Adventures

The Badlands have been home to Native Americans for generations, and the surrounding land has more recently become home to cattle ranchers and farmers. Life out here is hard — but that doesn't mean it's quiet. The park is crawling, galloping, and burrowing with life, and nowhere is that more obvious than in its mammals. From 2,000-pound bison to a ferret roughly the size of a sock, the wildlife here has a way of stopping you mid-sentence and reminding you that you are very much a visitor. This is the first in a two-part series on Badlands wildlife. Today we're covering the mammals. Next time we'll get into birds, reptiles, amphibians, and a few other things — including a snake safety section that I promise my wife didn't ask me to include, but that you should read anyway. A Word on Mammal Safety Humor is always high on the priority list around here, but safety is the most important thing on any adventure. I like doing crazy things — safely. And when it comes to wi...

The Badlands are the dramatic rift where the upper prairie meets the lower prairie—a place where the dirt has been laid bare and left to battle the elements. This exposure leads to constant erosion and an ever‑changing landscape that shifts by inches each year. Nature here is very busy… and apparently never clocks out. Many of the roads and trails we travel today were once rough paths used by early settlers, and long before that, by Native Americans who knew this land far better than Google Maps ever will. Whether on foot, by car, or even by horse and buggy, humans have been navigating this complex and breathtaking landscape for generations. Today, there are a handful of maintained hiking trails and scenic roads, but much of the park remains intentionally unkept—perfect for true exploration and adventure. Think less “theme park,” more “choose your own adventure… with consequences.” Safety First (Adventure Second) Hiking and camping in the Badlands can be incredibly rewarding, but thi...