July 2019 • Nebraskaland 31
Dr. Robert Wolcott, a zoologist at the University of Nebraska
who specialized in ecology and collected beetles, butterfl ies,
myriopods, reptiles and mites.
Despite all of the notable landforms the team encountered
during its journey, Shoemaker described Devil's Den "in
a class by itself as regards the geological phenomena of
this region." Knowing that Wayne Mollhoff had observed
a lot of Pine Ridge country in his pursuit of species such as
white-throated swifts and northern saw-whet owls, my
excitement to witness a scene he determined to be special
was heightened.
From the parking lot, my then 13-year-old son Sawyer and
I set out with the Mollhoff s on the 1.65-mile hike – which
TOP: Devil's den from above. BOTTOM: A carved inscription from June 1911, the month the expedition visited the crevice.
