Nebraska : Flora & Fauna

Nebraska has a wide variety of forests right from deciduous to coniferous forests. While oak and hickory comprise deciduous forests, Prairie includes various slough grasses and needlegrasses, along with big bluestem and prairie dropseed. Mixed prairie regions abound with western wheatgrass and buffalo grass. The prairie region of the Sand Hills supports a variety of bluestems, gramas, and other grasses. Wild rose, phlox, petunia, columbine, goldenrod, and sunflower are some of the wild flowers of Nebraska. Rare species of Nebraska's flora include the Hayden penstemon, yellow ladyslipper, pawpaw, and snow trillium. As of 2003, three species including the Ute ladies'-tresses, western prairie fringed orchid, and Colorado butterfly plant; blowout penstemon was listed as endangered.
Common mammals native to the state are the pronghorn sheep, striped ground squirrel, white-tailed and mule deer, badger, , coyote kit fox, prairie vole, and several skunk species. Rare animal species include the least shrew, least weasel, and bobcat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service listed nine animal species as threatened or endangered in 2003, including the American burying beetle, whooping crane, black-footed ferret, Topeka shiner, bald eagle, pallid sturgeon, and Eskimo curlew.