Check out our free resources for educators, after school coordinators, scout groups and others!

We have Education Trunks available for use in schools, nature centers, libraries and other informal settings. Pick-up and drop-off trunks at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office, 203 W. 2nd St. Grand Island, NE. Trunks can be checked out for a period of two weeks and can be reserved by calling 308-382-6468 ext 14. or email jeanine_lackey@fws.gov.

We also have a "Wildlife for Trade" trunk that can be checked out for a period of 4-6 weeks. This trunk comes with an Educator's guide to discussing the impacts of wildlife trade in a "classroom setting" and confiscated items from the illegal wildlife trade.

A Strong Partnership Protects Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers: Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), sand and gravel mining companies in Nebraska agree to help U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in the conservation of piping plovers and Interior least terns. Article by Angelina Wright

You can also read the story in the February edition of the Prairie Fire.

Platte River Caddisfly Not Warranted for Endangered Species Protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Platte River caddisfly, a small, moth-like insect found in backwaters along rivers in Nebraska, is not warranted for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). News Release | Q&A for the PRFC 12-month finding | ESA Success Story | Species Information

The 12-month finding will be published on the Federal Register on 08/30/2012. A PDF copy of the unpublished Proposed Rule can be found here.

You're invited to an Educational Bird Banding Station at Audobon's Rowe Sanctuary. 44450 Elm Island Road, Gibbon, Nebraska. Weekday morinings from September 4th - Sept. 21, 2012. This educational program is designed for students in grades 3-6. For more information contact Jeanine Lackey at jeanine_lackey@fws.gov or (308) 382-6468 ext.14.

The Lincoln Children's Zoo and the Nebraska Field Office celebrated Endangered Species Day with a day of activities at the Zoo. We also recognized the winners of an Endangered Species Art Contest organized by the Zoo's staff. Another day full of fun activities is planned for July 11, 2012. Come join us!

Bridges to Birding is a program designed to facilitate bird awareness and connect students & educators with the outdoors and the native birds found in Nebraska. Nine birding kits are available for check-out throughout Nebraska. Click here for more information or call Jeanine Lackey at 308-382-6468 x14.

Mountain Prairie Region: A Year in Review 2011: Welcome to the Mountain-Prairie Region and our look back at 2011. We had a full and productive year achieving significant milestones in our mission to conserve the nation's fish and wildlife resources. Steve Guertin, Regional Director

The Salt Creek Tiger Beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana) is an active, ground-dwelling, predatory insect that captures smaller or similar sized arthropods in a ‘‘tiger-like’’ manner by grasping prey with its mandibles (mouthparts). This beetle is only found in the eastern Nebraska saline wetlands and associated streams and tributaries of Salt Creek in the northern third of Lancaster County. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo , and the Lincoln Children's Zoo are teaming up to increase the chances of survival and recovery of the tiger beetle in Nebraska. To learn more on the efforts of this team click here to see the story on NET's QUEST Nebraska multimedia series.

The USFWS and NGPC have developed a Guidance Document to ensure that problematic Osprey nests are recognized and managed in a proactive, consistent and lawful manner in Nebraska. Ospreys benefit from the presence of power lines by using distribution poles and transmission structures for nesting. However, the bulky nests often cause power outages when sticks interfere with electrical equipment. The guidelines are intended to inform managers of regulations and protocols for addressing problematic osprey nest situations: they are not regulatory in themselves and they are not intended to supplant onsite review or consultation. Avoiding Osprey and Energy Infrastructure Conflicts: Information and Resources for UtilitiesVersion

Nebraska Wildlife Refuges Celebrates Historic Anniversay. Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge was established as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds on January 11, 1912 by President William Howard Taft. Governor Dave Heineman has recognized this historic anniversary by officially proclaiming this date, January 11, 2012, as the 100th Anniversary of Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge provides habitat for over 230 species of birds, 350 bison, 75 elk, and a host of other mammal, reptile, amphibian, and fish species.