Flora & Fauna

By Ronica Stromberg, National Research Traineeship Program Coordinator Miyauna Incarnato, doctoral researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has discovered that studying monarch butterflies is not for the faint of heart. For one thing, eastern monarch butterflies are hard to track. The orange-and-black beauties breed four to five generations in a year, with successive generations migrating from Mexico to Canada and back again. Depending on where and when they are born, the butterflies live for different lengths of time. Only adults …

This February, we highlight the white-tailed jackrabbit, a Tier II at-risk species in Nebraska. Story by Olivia DaRugna, Watchable Wildlife Biologist Jackrabbits are always a treat to see. Their awkwardly large ears and eyes and long hind legs give them a cartoonish appearance. Although “rabbit” is in their name, jackrabbits are actually hares, which are precocial, meaning they are born with fur, open eyes and are able to move soon after birth. The white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) is similar in …

By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist For animals, to simply live is only part of their battle. An organism also needs to succeed in attracting a suitable mate in the hopes of passing on their genes to the next generation. Animals, similarly to people, will use a wide range of strategies to get themselves out there in the mating market. These strategies are often referred to as courtship displays, which are often required before copulation, and therefore reproduction, can occur. …

Winter offers the best opportunities for viewing these large birds of prey. By Olivia DaRugna, Watchable Wildlife Biologist Is there an animal more majestic than the bald eagle? A once-endangered bird due to insecticides, including DDT, and hunting, bald eagles have rebounded and are now flourishing across the country. They represent one of America’s greatest conservation success stories. In Nebraska, bald eagles can be observed year round, but arguably, winter offers the best opportunities for viewing these large birds of …

Bushcaft. Have you heard the term? If run in outdoor circles like I do you probably have. Do you know what it means? It was brought to my attention recently, and I did not have a good explanation of its definition. So, I turned to Nebraskan Sam Larson, who is a renown, well-traveled Bushcraft (there’s that word again) Instructor and Wilderness Skills Expert and winner of the popular TV show survival challenge ALONE – Mongolia on the HISTORY Channel. He …

By Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager When my oldest child was in elementary school in the 1990s, I was invited to give a class presentation on wetlands. When I asked the students if Nebraska had any wetlands and whether any cool animals lived in them, I was shocked to hear them say, “No.” They knew more about the Everglades of Florida and the Amazon of South America than they did about wetlands in their own state. I wanted to fix …

At-risk Species Spotlight is a new, monthly blog post that will highlight one Nebraska animal that is at risk of extinction, with the goal of bringing awareness to the incredible diversity of wildlife we have in the state. See the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project to learn more about the conservation needs of these animals and the efforts to conserve them.    By Olivia DaRugna, Watchable Wildlife Biologist Owls are captivating and mysterious creatures of the night. Rarely seen but often …

By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist One of my favorite activities to do with students is to dissect owl pellets. Now, before you freak out about children looking through poop or puke, take a step back and know that it is neither. A pellet is a pellet, but what exactly is it? Owls are raptors, or birds of prey. Simply put, they hunt and eat the animals that they catch. These birds will eat a variety of prey, such as …

Surveying and Monitoring Nebraska Species By Leslie Reed, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Elusive creatures of the night, bats fly silently and erratically in the dark. They hide in nooks and crannies and caves. Because of these ghostly qualities, humans often don’t realize when bats are nearby. A University of Nebraska–Lincoln scientist is working with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and other federal and state agencies to use acoustic detectors to survey bat species and populations in …

It’s winter. Snow has already fallen. It’s cold outside. Brrrr … But there is a no need to be a couch potato this time of year staying cozy by the fire for hours or binge watching a dramatic TV show series. Nah, not when there are fun things to do outdoors, that is! There is actually host of activities that can be done outside in Nebraska throughout the winter months. So, gather up your winter garb, here are some ideas …