Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

01/13/2024

Sharp-tailed Grouse are a charismatic gamebird found where prairie meets woods. Males gather at 'lek' sites to display to females. They have an unusual display where all males display vigorously, then they all freeze in unison. If you want an opportunity to see this amazing display for yourself, visit audubonofkansas.org/grousetours for more information. Audubon of Kansas offers sharp-tailed grouse tours at their Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary near Bassett, Nebraska.

12/30/2023

This only happens once every 10 years! Don't miss it! Feedback is needed from landowners, hunters, birders, hikers, nature enthusiasts - in other words: YOU!

10/20/2023

Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the wild and scenic Niobrara River, but Audubon of Kansas works to protect all rivers in Nebraska and Kansas. Here is an opportunity to protect another river in Nebraska - the Platte. That river attracts hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes during migration, and provides a large boost to the local economy through ecotourism. We need to find solutions within river watersheds, not stealing water from a neighboring watershed.

Please take action and tell the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to deny the Platte-Republican River diversion!

10/16/2023

Quiet! Except for birdsong!

An international foundation dedicated to preserving "quiet places" will honor Nebraska's scenic Niobrara River.

07/26/2023

I identified a lifer plant today! Sand milkweed at Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary near Bassett, Nebraska.

07/06/2023

Work at Hutton!!

Duties: The Sanctuary Manager will be responsible for implementing all habitat management and property maintenance on all Audubon of Kansas (AOK) sanctuaries. Most work will occur at Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary near Bassett, Nebraska, but the Sanctuary Manager is expected to conduct reg...

03/16/2023

We welcomed visitors from our western states today.

We had an unusual visitor to Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary: Mountain Bluebirds. These birds tend to be nomadic in winter, and are likely just passing through ahead of the strong cold front that will hit tomorrow.

05/22/2016

12/18/2015

"Four of us spent nearly three days roaming the grasslands, woods, and wet meadows, trying to absorb the rich diversity of plant and animal life. A sharp-tailed grouse lek, with over twenty participating males, was located on a grassy hilltop only a half-mile from the beautiful guesthouse (Hutton’s last home) where we slept, and from which we could hear the birds’ daily dawn dances."

We encourage you read this wonderful article about the Niobrara Sanctuary, written by Paul Johnsgard in 2014.

By Paul A. Johnsgard Over the first sixty-mile segment of the Niobrara National Scenic and Recreational River, the river makes a graceful bend south, reaching its southernmost point along the northern border of Rock County.

12/18/2015

"Located on the northern edge of the Sandhills along the Niobrara River with bluffs and wet meadows, this prairie preserve provides habitat for wildlife and native plant life."

Here's a article about the Niobrara Sanctuary, written by manager Ron Klataske back in 2013.

The Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is a 5,000-acre property managed for wildlife, people and more.