South Dakota

The history of Alligators in South Dakota

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2024

The history of Alligators in South Dakota

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Alligators in South Dakota. Of course, there aren’t any gators roaming around in a nearby lake.

However, alligators did once call the state home.

Believe it or not, alligators did roam the lands of what is now South Dakota millions of years ago.

Interim Director of Museum of Geology Darrin Pagnac says the earliest records of alligators in South Dakota come from the late Jurassic Period.

“Our earliest record here in the Black Hills is from about 150 million years ago from the Morrison Formation. Morrison Formation is where Dinosaur National Monument is. So, we get a lot of long neck dinosaurs and allosaurs and that sort of thing and crocodilians are very common,” says Pagnac.

Pagnac added that it is common to find alligator fossils from the late Cretaceous Period in the northwestern part of the state. He went on to say that although alligators survived the dinosaur extinction 66 million years ago, the reptiles would later go extinct in the lands of what is South Dakota today.

“About 38 to 35 million years ago, that’s probably about the time they went extinct. And their extinction coincides with uh drying and cooling trend that we see throughout South Dakota. We lost these tropical swamps and forests and things really changed to a more temperate kind of seasonal environment,” says Pagnac.

Reptile Gardens General Curator Terry Phillip says historically crocodilians have been one of the most successful groups of animals in the world and they have undergone very few changes in appearance in the last 200 million years.

“Anytime you have an animal that has a fossil record that goes back that far, with very few changes, size being the biggest change that you’re going to see. They just got a little smaller. But, when you see an animal that successful, it just shows the design concept was perfect to begin with,” says Phillip.

Since alligators have been non-existent in South Dakota for millions of years, Earl Brockelsby opened Reptile Gardens in 1937 as a way to reintroduce them to the state.

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South Dakota

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A Rapid City church is hosting a free community event Thursday to raise awareness about human trafficking, with organizers saying the danger may be closer than people think.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Bethlehem Lutheran Church is opening the presentation to the entire community because organizers say awareness alone can save a life.

“If we can get 20 people to understand what to look for — if we can get 20 people to understand that this organization exists — then we can start shining light into every corner, and suddenly it’ll be a better world,” said Alexandra Loverink, co-president of LWML Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Event details

The free presentation is Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Rushmore Street. The speaker is Reverend Tess Franzen, founder of Freedom’s Journey, a Rapid City-based ministry that has assisted hundreds of trafficking survivors over more than a decade.

Franzen said the problem in South Dakota is far more widespread than most people realize.

“We see mostly sex trafficking, but much of what we see is — some people might call it homegrown or familial,” Franzen said. “We see trafficking here where young people are being trafficked out, their family members are selling access to them when they’re children. And in many cases, they don’t really even realize there’s anything wrong with it.”

Organizer Cari Garwood-Beard said Franzen’s presentation changed how she sees her own neighborhood, and she wants others to have that same wake-up call.

“She told a story about her neighbor one time — just a good old guy — and found out that he was a trafficker. Her neighbor, who she thought was above boards,” Garwood-Beard said. “And it really hit home. My next-door neighbor could be.”

A freewill offering will be collected for Freedom’s Journey at Thursday’s event. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is at 1630 Rushmore Street.

Resources

If you suspect trafficking, dial 9-1-1 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

For more information about Freedom’s Journey, visit their website or call 805.380.8009.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for May 8, 2026

Published

13 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing

37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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