American Burying Beetle Resurgence 17% Growth in Nebraska Grasslands

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American burying beetles resurge in Nebraska's Loess Canyons, marking their first regional population growth since 1989's endangered species listing.

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North America's largest carrion beetle population jumped 17% between 2007-2019, climbing from 168 to 196 beetles across sampling sites.

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These five-centimeter-long undertakers need 100-200 gram carcasses - perfect rabbit-sized meals - to feed their larvae each summer.

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Habitat loss and vanishing prey species pushed these expert decomposers from 35 states to small pockets in just 10 states across North America.

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Nebraska's native grasslands prove crucial for beetle survival, with populations predicted to double when perennial grasses cover 75% of landscapes.

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Beetle numbers crash to near zero when tree density exceeds 10 per hectare or when merely 0.1% of grasslands convert to cropland.

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Nebraska loses about 2% of its grasslands yearly to encroaching eastern red cedar trees, threatening these remarkable insects' recovery.

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Over 100 private landowners spearhead beetle conservation by burning one-third of Loess Canyons since 2002, reducing tree cover to historic levels.

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Fire reintroduction creates diverse prairie habitats, expanding food options for these specialized decomposers.

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