Some footage from one of my trail cameras at a prairie dog town at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve, Keya Paha County, Nebraska.
The Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) can be seen digging, standing watch, sounding an alarm, and even looking into the camera lens. Never got footage of them doing that before. They got pretty close to the camera this time.
Some footage from one of my trail cameras at a prairie dog town at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve, Keya Paha County, Nebraska.
The Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) can be seen digging, standing watch, sounding an alarm, and even looking into the camera lens. Never got footage of them doing that before. They got pretty close to the camera this time.
Trail camera footage from last year of the only known Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) in Iowa from Loess Hills State Forest, Preparation Canyon Unit, Monona County. You may need to turn your volume up to hear the calls.
See more of these owls here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/northern-saw-at-132146660?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
All trail camera footage obtained from Loess Hills State Forest is available to the public free of charge, courtesy of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
A rare red morph of the Western Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix haydenii), which I found a few years ago at the Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies Preserve in Hall County, Nebraska. This morph is rare in the wild, most specimens are gray, sometimes with a hint of brown or green.
See more photos and original uncut videos here: https://www.patreon.com/JohnBrennan687/posts/red-morph-plains-161576782?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
See what normal Western Plains Garter Snakes look like here: https://youtu.be/-vxKCUim_aY
Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) hard at work digging and packing down dirt at their town the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska, USA.
From my most recent trip to check my trail cameras in the Sandhills (5/29-30/2026).
I encountered a Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), an endangered species, on the road in Rock County, NE while driving up to the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve. I initially suspected it was a Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), but the spotting and later the yellow-bottomed head made me realize its true identity. The Nebraska Sandhills is home to the largest population of these turtles in the world.
While on my way back to NVP from some errands in Ainsworth, Brown County, NE, I encountered a female Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata), which I also carried across. As you can see, the turtle tried to pee on my while I carried it.
For original, uncut footage, see here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/blandings-turtle-160253737?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Male and female Blue-Winged Teal (Anas discors) at the Calamus Outfitters Switzer Ranch, Loup County, NE. This species is a common spring migrant in our area, especially in the Missouri River valley.
See more of these ducks and other wildlife at this site here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/april-2026-at-158970760?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Ord's Kangaroo Rats (Dipodomys ordii) picked up by one of my trail cameras at a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) town at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. They have interesting adaptations that let them survive in drier environments and avoid predators like rattlesnakes and owls.
Video of an American Badger (Taxidea taxus) from the Preparation Canyon Unit, Loess Hills State Forest, Monona County, Iowa. This was one of the last videos I got of this badger before finally taking the cameras down on 6/30/2025.
I don't know what this badger is doing. I have wondered if it is trying to threaten the camera. Others have speculated that the badger was sprayed by a skunk in its den. If you have any other ideas, let me know in the comments below.
A Mountain Lion/Cougar/Puma (Puma concolor) trotting through a prairie dog town at night and then coming up to investigate my trail camera at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. This camera is part of a project to find Plains Spotted Skunks (Spilogale (putorius) interrupta) in the state.
A Northern Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus garmani)* from the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Brown County, Nebraska. The timestamp is 1 day ahead, so it should read 10/10/2025.
*Now often classified as S. consobrinus, but I stick to traditional taxonomy.
Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor) perched on fence posts of the bison pasture at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Brown Co., NE.
A compilation of some of the videos my cameras picked up of Coyotes (Canis latrans), an American Badger (Taxidea taxus), and a Mountain Lion/Cougar/Puma (Puma concolor) at a prairie dog town at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska.
I suspect that the Mountain Lion has been hunting the many deer that forage at this town. The badger and Coyotes appear to be inspecting the burrows, though only the badger could dig them up at night. The Coyotes may be hunting kangaroo rats.
You may have noticed that this camera's surroundings look a little different from before. I have moved it from its original location as it was the burrow it was near has since been filled in and it was not picking up as much activity. Hopefully I'll get some more wildlife at this spot.
A compilation of some of the videos my cameras picked up of Coyotes (Canis latrans), an American Badger (Taxidea taxus), and a Mountain Lion/Cougar/Puma (Puma concolor) at a prairie dog town at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska.
I suspect that the Mountain Lion has been hunting the many deer that forage at this town. The badger and Coyotes appear to be inspecting the burrows, though only the badger could dig them up at night. The Coyotes may be hunting kangaroo rats.
You may have noticed that this camera's surroundings look a little different from before. I have moved it from its original location as it was the burrow it was near has since been filled in and it was not picking up as much activity. Hopefully I'll get some more wildlife at this spot.
This Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) was found by my fellow Forest Ecology Research assistants 2 years ago at Indian Cave State Park in Richardson and Nemaha Counties, NE. The color on this specimen is likely muted as it is shedding, note its opaque eyes.
One of Nebraska's rarest snakes. Primarily an eastern species, they extend westward along the forested bluffs of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Historically more widespread in the Missouri River Valley in Nebraska (at least as far north as Plattsmouth), they are now relegated to a few populations in the MO and KS border counties, as they are sensitive to habitat changes. In the north, they den up in rocky crevices that go very deep below the frost line. Their eyesight is very poor and they can only recognize these sites by smell, so land development is basically a death sentence for these animals in the north and they are unable to colonize new sites on their own. They are protected by NE state law because of this.
Timber Rattlesnakes are much more docile than the rattlesnakes of the west. This specimen did not mind 5 humans watching for several minutes. Most Timber Rattlesnakes are reluctant to bite, even when stepped on or handled, but I do not recommend attempting to handle them without proper training, as they are fairly venomous (though their bite is rarely life-threatening)
Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) lounging outside a burrow at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska.
Got this interesting footage from one of my cameras at a prairie dog town at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. In the 1st clip, a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) seen standing close to the camera calling an alarm, then a prairie dog (possibly the same one sounding the alarm) is seen near a burrow off in the distance. In the final clip, a Coyote (Canis latrans) is seen at the burrow. Will the Coyote succeed? Watch and find out!
Got this interesting footage from one of my cameras at a prairie dog town at the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. In the 1st clip, a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) seen standing close to the camera calling an alarm, then a prairie dog (possibly the same one sounding the alarm) is seen near a burrow off in the distance. In the final clip, a Coyote (Canis latrans) is seen at the burrow. Will the Coyote succeed? Watch and find out!