National Wildlife Day is celebrated on February 22nd and September 4th of every year.
Colleen Paige, who studies animal behavior, created National Wildlife Day in 2005. It was initially celebrated only on September 4th but to honor the late wildlife conservationist, Steve Irwin, National Wildlife Day began being celebrated on February 22nd, Irwin’s birthdate. National Wildlife Day aims to raise awareness about endangered species, the importance of global conservation efforts, and protecting local ecosystems. This year’s theme is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet,” emphasizing the connection between wildlife and human livelihoods.
Nebraska’s wildlife includes a variety of animals, plants, and ecosystems native to Nebraska’s diverse habitats–from prairies and wetlands to rivers and forests. Did you know Nebraska is home to over 700 at-risk species? Common threats to wildlife include the changing climate, illnesses, invasive species, pollution, and habitat destruction. Extinction rates occur faster than ever today.
Wildlife plays a vital role in supporting human well-being, as it provides economic value and ecological services.
Ecological services that wildlife provides includes:
- Pollination of crops and wild plants by various pollinators
- Pest control of rodents and/or insects by bats, snakes, owls, birds and other predators
- Filtering of pollutants in water and reduced flooding provided by the diversity of wetlands
- Improved soil fertility by burrowing animals such as prairie dogs that aerate the soil
- More wildlife diversity indicates higher quality ecosystems
Economic value that wildlife provides includes:
- Crop and livestock production
- Tourism and recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, birdwatching, and wildlife photography bring millions of visitors annually. Nebraska’s Sandhill Crane migration alone attracts thousands of visitors each year.
- Jobs in conservation, tourism, and outdoor recreation
Highlighted Species
There are numerous species that deserve recognition, but these are some of the most widely recognized species for conservation.
- Whooping Crane: A majority of the world’s wild Whooping Crane population migrates through Nebraska each spring and fall following the Central Flyway, using the Platte, Niobrara, and Loup Rivers as critical stopover sites. They are the tallest bird in North America, standing up to 5 feet tall with a wingspan of over 7 feet. They were once reduced to just 15 individuals in 1940, but thanks to conservation efforts, the population has slowly rebounded to over 500 individuals today! The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and organizations like the Crane Trust work to protect the wetlands and river habitats that are essential for the cranes’ survival during migration. The Rainwater Basin Wetland Conservation focuses on preserving critical wetlands for migratory birds and waterfowl.
- Pallid Sturgeon: They are often found in the Missouri River along Nebraska’s eastern border, and occasionally in the Platte, Niobrara, Elkhorn, and Big Sioux Rivers. They prefer muddy, fast-flowing rivers with sandbars and islands, where they feed near the bottom. They have been federally endangered since 1990 due to habitat loss from damming, river channelization, and hybridization with the shovelnose sturgeon. Despite recovery efforts, their population is still declining and at dangerously low numbers. The ancestors of the pallid sturgeon have existed for several million years, dating back to the time of the dinosaurs! In Nebraska, they are rarely caught and usually weigh under 10 pounds. In rare cases, they can group up to 65 pounds and live over 40 years. They have a toothless, sucker-like mouth that extends to vacuum up insects, crustaceans, and worms from the riverbed. They are capable of long migrations, but human-made barriers like dams have severely limited their movement and breeding success.
- Salt Creek Tiger Beetle: One of the rarest insects in the world, they are only found in Nebraska’s saline wetlands in Lancaster County near Lincoln. These beetles depend on mud flats and salt deposits for their survival. Habitat loss due to urban development and stream channelization has drastically reduced their range. Fewer than 15 acres of suitable habitat remain–about the size of 15 football fields. They have been listed as endangered since 1997. Adults are about half an inch long, with a metallic brown to olive green top and a metallic green underside. They are carnivorous and known for their lightning-fast movements when hunting.
- Monarch Butterfly: Monarchs help pollinate many native plants. Nebraska is a vital migration stopover for monarchs. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed plants, which are essential for their survival. Monarch populations have plummeted from an estimated 1 billion in the 1990s to around 33 million in 2013-2014 due to loss of milkweed, pesticide use, and deforestation. Conservation efforts have had some success in rebounding these populations since then, although they may be declining again.
- Northern Long-Eared Bat: As of March 2021, the northern long-eared bat was uplisted from Threatened to Endangered due to severe population declines. Their main threat is white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bat populations across North America; in some regions it has caused a decline of 97-100%. Other threats include habitat destruction from logging and development, energy projects that can cause bat mortality, and how the changing climate affects their hibernation and food availability. Nebraska Game and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working on technical assistance for windfarms to reduce mortality, forest management guidelines to protect roosting and foraging habitats, and survey protocols that monitor populations and identify critical habitats.
- Sandhill Crane: Each spring, about 80% of the global sandhill crane population–nearly a million individuals–stop at the Platte River Valley to rest and refuel. Sandhill cranes are the oldest living bird species, with fossil records in Nebraska dating back over 9 million years. While sandhill cranes aren’t currently endangered, they face threats including habitat loss due to river channelization and agricultural expansion, disturbance from human activity, and how the changing climate shifts migration time and food availability. Organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy and Nebraska Game and Parks, work to preserve and restore Platte River habitats, promote sustainable agriculture and land use, and educate the public through eco-tourism and crane viewing events.
- Bald Eagle: They were once endangered due to DDT pesticide use, habitat loss, and unregulated hunting. They were listed as federally endangered in 1978, but delisted in 2007 and removed from Nebraska’s threatened species list in 2008 due to strong population recovery. The bald eagle prefers to reside near rivers, lakes, and wetlands, where they hunt fish and waterfowl. Ongoing conservation efforts in Nebraska include: nest monitoring, public education, habitat protection, and enforcement of eagle protection laws. Habitat protection and the banning of DDT were pivotal in helping to restore their populations.
- Prairie Chicken: The Greater Prairie Chicken is native to Nebraska’s tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies. Once widespread, their populations declined significantly due to habitat loss from agriculture and development, fragmentation of native prairie, and invasive woody species encroaching on grasslands. Prescribed burns, invasive species control, and grazing plans that mimic natural disturbance patterns help to manage prairie chicken populations. USDA’s Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative and Working Lands for Wildlife have helped conserve over 1 million acres of habitat across the Great Plains. Lek viewing tours are offered in March-April, especially in western and central Nebraska.
- Swift Fox: The swift fox is the smallest wild canine in North America, weighing between 3-7 pounds. The swift fox is endangered in Nebraska. Historically found across the Great Plains, they are now limited to Southwest Nebraska and the Panhandle. They currently occupy less than half of their historic range due to faced threats including habitat conversion and loss due to agriculture, predation by coyotes, pesticide use, and road mortality. Conservation strategies include preserving native grasslands, controlling shrub encroachment, and engaging landowners in habitat-friendly practices. Nebraska Game and Parks conducts annual surveys and habitat assessments. The Swift Fox Conservation Team (SFCT) coordinates multi-state efforts to monitor and protect populations.
Ways to Support Wildlife
- Participate in litter cleanups
- If you buy a conservation license plate, it helps to fund conservation of at-risk species, trail maintenance, and youth education programs.
- Plant native plants
- Volunteer with organizations or support research and conservation efforts
- Visit wildlife refuges and nature centers
Other Conservation Efforts
- Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch is a long-term project that connects tallgrass prairie habitats and promotes biodiversity.
- The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project is a blueprint for conserving Nebraska’s biological diversity, focusing on at-risk species and habitats.
- In 2015, the Crane Trust introduced a herd of genetically pure American bison to help restore and maintain prairie ecosystems, as their grazing patterns promote plant diversity and healthy grasslands.
Observing Wildlife
Some top spots to view wildlife include:
- The Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland allows you to see bison, elk and many other native species up close.
- The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is great for birdwatching and observing other wildlife.
- Heron Haven in Omaha shows a variety of wetland birds and other wildlife.
- Ponca State Park is a hotspot for birdwatching.
- At Pine Ridge National Recreation Area, you can see elk during their mating season in September.
- At Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Valentine, you can see bison, elk, prairie dogs, various birds, and beautiful views of the Sandhills.
- Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area near Gering offers sightings of bighorn sheep, mule deer, raptors, and other wildlife.
- At Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in Bellevue, you can find songbirds, owls, deer, and wetland species.
- Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, has sightings of migratory birds, including early arrivals of waterfowl and shorebirds.
Resources: NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY - September 4, 2025 - National Today
Threatened and Endangered Species | Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
Nebraska Game & Parks Education - YouTube
Several other videos on our Youtube Channel! Conservation Nebraska - YouTube
