Nebraska’s threatened and endangered species list contains 32 plants and animals as of April 2023. Therefore, those plants and animals are in danger of extinction within Nebraska’s state boundaries. That might seem like an obvious statement, but it’s meant to highlight that species on a state’s list aren’t necessarily on the federally threatened and endangered list, too.
Bearing that in mind, Nebraska’s list of 32 plants and animals contains 16 species listed as endangered, six of which aren’t on the federal list, and 16 listed as threatened, 10 of which aren’t on the federal list. Over the past few years, the number on the state’s list has grown due to human-caused habitat loss, increasingly extreme weather, and environmental pollution.
However, the Nebraska Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act was established to protect its native species from these exact types of threats.
The act designates the Nebraska Department of Game and Wildlife to maintain a state-specific list of endangered and threatened species. In addition, it offers protections for those listed, carries out huge penalties on violators, and calls for repopulation and habitat restoration projects.
With that out of the way, keep reading on to learn about three animals listed on Nebraska’s threatened and endangered list and what is being done to get them off of it — in a good way, not the extinct way.
The Swift Fox
Photo Courtesy USFWS Mountain-Prairie
The swift fox (Vulpes velox) — not to be confused with the quick brown fox that jumps over lazy dogs — would be more aptly named the small fox. The average swift fox adult weighs between three and seven pounds, making it the smallest wild canine in North America. However, it does live up to its name, with the ability to reach speeds upwards of 31 miles per hour. For reference, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt reached a top speed of 27.8 mph while running his world record 9.58-second 100-meter dash in 2009.
The fox species is the only animal on this list that is only endangered in Nebraska and not federally. The housecat-sized foxes primarily exist only in the state’s Panhandle and southwest corner.
Although it isn’t endangered federally, swift fox populations in the country are estimated to be approximately 40% of their historic levels.
The species was basically hunted to extinction in Canada, but successful reintroduction and like-minded projects have brought some back. The animal’s decline in Nebraska has primarily been due to habitat destruction and predator eradication efforts.
There is still hope to return its population to historic highs in the state. Canada wasn’t the only place to reintroduce the species — South Dakota has also seen similar success. Nebraska has yet to try any such projects, but it’s a viable option if other attempts fail to show promise.
The Black-footed Ferret
Photo Courtesy J. Michael Lockhart/USFWS
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) has two nicknames (one of which is really cool): the American polecat and prairie dog hunter. The fact this ferret is even on an “endangered” species list might actually be a good thing. It was initially thought to be extinct decades ago but was rediscovered in Wyoming in 1981.
Since then, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), countless government agencies, and various other organizations have done their best to save the rare species from extinction through habitat protection and restoration, captive breeding, cloning (seriously), and reintroductions. According to the WWF, these efforts have amounted to a population of more than 300 black-footed ferrets in the wild.
However, the creature remains one of the continent’s most endangered mammals.
In 2019, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service stated that the four primary stressors for black-footed ferrets were disease, drought, declining genetic fitness (due to inbreeding and less genetic diversity), and prairie dog poisoning and shooting.
If you’re confused about the prairie dog reason, let’s just say the only wild ferret species in North America isn’t called the prairie dog hunter only because it sounds cool.
The federally and state-listed endangered ferret species still has a long road ahead before being safely considered “back.” However, considering that its population, once thought to be completely extinct, is now slowly rising, and, as the saying goes, only fools would bet against the black-footed ferret.
The Topeka Shiner
Photo Courtesy Sam Stukel/USFWS
The Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka) is the final animal featured on this list, though it was first listed as a federally (and therefore also state) endangered species in January of 1999. Just like the swift fox, this fish is small, reaching between 1.5 and 3 inches in length. A stocky fish for its miniature size, a typical Topeka Shiner’s lifespan reaches about three years. Unfortunately, almost 90% of them die within their first year of life.
The fish are very rare, so not much is known about their feeding habits. They are omnivores, and scientists have found plants and insect remains in their stomachs.
Their ability to not be picky eaters, while admirable, has not helped much with their survival. The number of Topeka Shiners has dropped 70% in the past 50 years, mainly due to habitat loss, increased sedimentation in their preferred waters, and reduced water quality.
Several agencies, universities, and wildlife organizations are actively researching what type of habitats and resources could best help the fish species survive and, eventually, restore its population to previous levels. For state-level initiatives, the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, which aims to conserve the state’s flora, fauna, and natural habitats, listed the Topeka Shiner as a “Tier I at-risk species of high priority for conservation” in its Species Conservation Assessment.
The road to repopulation isn’t a given for this fish, fox, or ferret. This is an endangered species article, after all. However, efforts are being made to save these animals, not just in Nebraska but across the country and the world.
