NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/604047
DECEMBER 2015 • NEBRASKAland 27 American Bison once migrated through the Great Plains and changed the landscape in their wake. They grazed vegetation very short, and created a patchwork of prairie habitats that many plant and animal species relied upon. Pronghorn Antelope are actually not antelope at all, although they appear similar to antelope of the Old World. Pronghorn are among North America's fastest land mammals and can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour and maintain that speed for miles. Not built for jumping, they are often seen going under fences rather than over. The Striped Skunk has a wonderful defense system that rarely injures other animals but nonetheless is extremely effective. Skunks can dig their own dens, but if something else, such as prairie dogs, provides a home for them, they will readily move in. The Black Widow Spider earns its name because after mating, the female may consume the male. There are many species of widow spiders and they are found in temperate regions all over the world, including shortgrass prairies. The Cottontail Rabbit is highly adaptable and can survive in many habitats, including farms and suburban areas. It is very territorial in defending its home range. The Prairie Rattlesnake is famous for its warning system: a series of hollow keratin segments that form a rattle on the end of its tail. The rattle is actually a defense system, because this snake prefers to scare away a threat rather than strike. The American Badger is in the Mustelidae family and closely related to weasels, otters and ferrets. This stocky carnivore has distinctive stripes and even though this is a common mammal, it is rarely seen as it is primarily nocturnal. They are well adapted to digging out their own dens, which can have multiple entrances and be over 4 feet in depth. The Burrowing Owl is aptly named because it nests in holes in the ground. This small owl can dig its own burrow, but often uses one already created by prairie dogs. The burrowing owl is declining in many states and is considered a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Nebraska.