Other Wildlife

	River Otter Rowe Sanctuary was a location for reintroducing the river otter to central Nebraska. Throughout a year, an otter may occupy 50 or more miles of stream course. These playful animals are a rare sight, but an unforgettable one.
	Red Fox About the size of a large cat, a red fox has such acute hearing it can detect a watch ticking 40 yards away. With its reddish coat and bushy white-tipped tail, a red fox is a memorable sight. Their dens can be about anywhere—from a deep forest to one’s backyard.
	Beaver North America’s largest rodent can be found along stream courses, rivers and small lakes. Although domed lodges are the most visible beaver den sites, bank burrows tend to be more common in Nebraska.
	Raccoon Among the most intelligent of wild animals, raccoons are most active at night as they search for food. Slow runners, but agile climbers, raccoons prefer areas with trees, but can be seen in a variety of environments.
	Bobcat These secretive felines are being seen more often as populations have been on the increase. Bobcats, named for their short tail, typically hunt at dusk, dawn and throughout the night along wooded river bottoms and in mixed forests.
	White-tailed Deer The white-tailed deer is the most abundant big game animal in North America. Named for its large “white flag” tail which is displayed as the animal bounds away, the white-tailed deer is a common site along river beds, shelterbelts and near farm fields where they feed.
	Coyote The howling and yipping of coyotes is a common sound in central Nebraska. Coyotes may be active and observed throughout the day, but are most active at dusk and dawn. They hunt in areas where small prey occur—from grasslands to river bottoms.
	Striped Skunk This species is what comes to mind most often when people hear the word “skunk.” These solitary, nocturnal creatures spend their day in a burrow or other sheltered space—emerging at dusk to feed.
Central Nebraska is also home to a variety of additional mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and wildflowers.