North Sterling State Park Wildlife

Visitors can observe white-tailed deer and pronghorn, as well as other plains species such as jackrabbit, black-tailed prairie dog, coyote and ground squirrel. Backwaters with rushes and cattails provide habitat for many amphibians, such as plains leopard frog and barred tiger salamander, and provide habitat for fry and fingerling fish. Many wading birds hunt these shallow waters, as well as various snakes and carnivores.

The reservoir supports habitat for various waterfowl species and a large concentration of American white pelican in the summer. Plains species of lark bunting, horned lark and meadowlark nest in park uplands. Raptors commonly observed in the area include bald eagle, ferruginous hawk, prairie falcon and kestrel. The burrowing owl uses prairie dog burrows for nesting and brood-rearing sites.

Anglers enjoy the warm-water fishing opportunities at the reservoir, which include walleye, wiper, bass, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, carp and rainbow trout.