Natural Resources & Conservation
South Dakota is home to many unique land, water and wildlife resources. Our experts and partners offer research-based information through to help people enjoy, preserve and profit from these natural resources.
Wildlife
All Wildlife Content
SDSU Student Prepares to Share His Farming and Hunting Story in 2018 Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic Precision Agriculture Workshop
December 19, 2018
Passionate about farming and hunting, South Dakota State University student Cole Berkley looks forward to sharing why he wants to farm and why he hunts at the Precision Agriculture Workshop at the 2018 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic.
Haying With Wildlife in Mind
Anyone who has spent time cutting hay knows that hayland can be a magnet for wildlife in late spring and early summer. Hay fields are often considered an “ecological trap” for wildlife; that is, they appear to be high quality habitat for nesting or feeding due to tall, dense grass and legumes, but often lead to increased mortality once harvesting is under way.
Tuberculosis in Cattle: What you need to know
Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic and slowly progressive disease of cattle that emerges periodically in the US, as it has with a recent discovery in a Harding County, South Dakota, cattle herd.
Give the Gift of Conservation This Christmas
The SDSU Natural Resources Management Department and SDSU Extension would like to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and remind everyone that if you are shopping for a late holiday gift, consider giving the gift of conservation to yourself or someone else.
Swift Fox Status on South Dakota’s Grasslands
The swift fox (Vulpes velox) is a small fox native to the short and mixed-grass prairies of the Great Plains. In 2014, I began my master’s research at South Dakota State University monitoring the population of swift foxes around Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota. This population has recently declined, possibly due to various biotic and abiotic factors.
Wildlife and the Bottom Line
As the fall harvest wraps up and this year’s calf crop is weaned, many producers may be nervous about what their paychecks will look like for 2016. In tough market conditions, it can be tempting to try to squeeze just a bit more production out of the land.