State guide
South Dakota
South Dakota relies heavily on city animal control or community service units in larger municipalities, while state law gives sheriffs authority to take possession of animals suspected of being dangerous. Wildlife rehabilitation information is handled by Game, Fish and Parks, and rabies guidance is split between the Department of Health and the Animal Industry Board.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually city animal control or community service units handle domestic animal issues in larger South Dakota cities, while counties rely more on sheriffs for dangerous-animal authority.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- For rabies concerns, South Dakota guidance says to report suspect or exposed animals to the South Dakota Animal Industry Board, and sheriffs must consult the Department of Health when a dangerous animal has bitten a person or pet.
- State rabies contact
- DOH Epidemiology
Official resources in South Dakota
Official state wildlife rehabilitation help page with guidance for found wildlife and regional GFP contacts.
State rabies page with prevention guidance, statutes, and Department of Health contact information.
State zoonotic disease page linking to human rabies guidance and animal disease reporting.
Official guidance for rabies exposure consultation and animal rabies reporting contacts.
State statute giving sheriffs authority over animals suspected of being dangerous.
Key facts for South Dakota
- GFP says South Dakota has very few licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
- GFP says if you are certain a young wild animal is orphaned, contact the nearest GFP office, conservation officer, or wildlife damage specialist.
- South Dakota law says the sheriff may take possession of any animal suspected of being dangerous.
- The dangerous-animal statute requires consultation with the Department of Health for rabies control when a human or pet was bitten.
- DOH’s rabies page lists DOH Epidemiology as the contact for questions.
- DOH’s human rabies guidelines say to report suspect or exposed animals to the South Dakota Animal Industry Board.
Local animal control offices in South Dakota
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Control Minnehaha | Sioux Falls | Not published* | City animal control handles licensing, stray animals, bites, abuse and neglect, injured animals, and some larger dead wildlife. |
| Animal Control / Community Services Division Brookings | Brookings | 605-692-2113 | City community service unit page lists animal control contact information. |
| Animal Control Brown | Aberdeen | Not published* | City police directory lists the Aberdeen animal control office and officer contact. |
| Animal Control Brookings | Brookings | 605-692-2113 | County animal control page says to contact this office for pet licensing, animals at large, and injured or wild animals. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- For wild animals, call GFP before capturing or feeding them unless wildlife authorities direct you otherwise.
- If a bite or rabies concern involves a domestic animal, contact local animal control or law enforcement and seek rabies guidance from DOH.
- If the issue is rabies in animals or suspect exposed animals, use the Animal Industry Board contact listed in the state rabies guidance.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from South Dakota's population center, for comparison only):
- Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska · about 215 miles
- Bismarck Animal Control, North Dakota · about 215 miles
- North Dakota Game and Fish - Contact Us, North Dakota · about 215 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.South Dakota GFP Wildlife Rehabilitation Permits
Website →Phone: (605) 223-7709 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the South Dakota page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.