State Profile

South Dakota UFO Sightings

RANK #47 NATIONALLY — 782 REPORTED SIGHTINGS

Home/States/ South Dakota
782
Total reported sightings
#47
National ranking
1 in 1,100
Approx. per capita rate
2000s
Peak reporting decade

About South Dakota UAP sightings

South Dakota's Ellsworth AFB near Rapid City is home to the 28th Bomb Wing operating B-1B Lancer bombers — aircraft whose variable-sweep wing configuration can appear unusual to observers. The Badlands region and the Black Hills provide exceptional dark-sky observation conditions.

The ICBM missile fields of western South Dakota — operated by the 44th Missile Wing until deactivation — contributed classified military activity to the region's historical profile. The Badlands National Park and surrounding pine ridge areas attract astronomers and sky watchers who produce consistent quality reports.

Mount Rushmore's tourist draw means that millions of visitors observe the Black Hills night sky annually, contributing to a larger observer pool than the state's permanent population would suggest.

Contributing factors

  • Ellsworth AFB — B-1B Lancer base
  • Badlands National Park dark sky region
  • Black Hills observation corridor
  • Former ICBM missile fields
  • Strong tourist sky-observer base

Shape breakdown — South Dakota

Consistent with national patterns, South Dakota witnesses most frequently report orb and light phenomena, followed by triangular and disc-shaped objects.

Orb / Light
38%
Explore →
Triangle
16%
Explore →
Disc
14%
Explore →
Cigar
8%
Other
24%

Recent UAP news — South Dakota

Multiple witnesses in South Dakota file reports with NUFORC — pattern under review
NUFORC — 2026
Trump declassification order expected to surface files related to South Dakota military installations
Defense reporting — March 2026
AARO database includes cases from South Dakota in latest review cycle
Pentagon AARO — 2025

Frequently asked questions — South Dakota

South Dakota has 782 reported UFO and UAP sightings on record, ranking #47 nationally. The data is sourced from peer-reviewed academic research geocoding historical NUFORC reports through 2023. This represents reported sightings, not verified encounters.
South Dakota has produced notable sighting reports over the decades. The state's military installations and geographic characteristics have contributed to a consistent and varied reporting history. See the contributing factors section above for details specific to South Dakota.
Sightings from South Dakota can be reported to NUFORC at nuforc.org or MUFON at mufon.com. Both maintain state-level investigators. See our reporting guide for more information.

Neighboring states

Sighting counts: Montana: 1,823 | Wyoming: 1,102

North Dakota Minnesota Iowa Nebraska Wyoming Montana

Witnessed something unexplained in South Dakota?

Report your sighting to an established civilian organization. Your report contributes to the public record.

Report to NUFORC → Report to MUFON →