One of Nebraska’s great assets is the variety of animals that can be found when traveling from one end of the state to the other. Just as the landscape changes as one heads westward, so do the set of creatures one is likely to see.

Within a short drive from Chadron I have a fair chance of seeing pronghorn, mule deer, elk and the occasional swift fox or golden eagle. And, of course, one of the state’s most prominent media darlings, the bighorn sheep, makes its home in our butte country.

When it comes to wildlife viewing, June has been a great month for me. Tips and guidance from friends and coworkers helped me view and photograph a variety of the animals unique to this end of the state.

Bighorns enjoy the most rugged buttes and canyons of this part of the state – being able to scurry up and down steep canyons and buttes serves as a reliable defense mechanism and great entertainment.

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Justin Haag of Chadron is a public information officer for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and regional editor for NEBRASKAland magazine. He can be reached at [email protected] or 308-430-8515.