North Platte participating in City Nature Challenge

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - Nebraska Game and Parks is kicking off its first City Nature Challenge Friday.

North Platte is one of five cities participating in the challenge this year.

It’s a friendly competition that started between Los Angeles and San Francisco to identify as much urban wildlife as possible. The competition has now spread across the globe.

“We don’t really have documentation of the urban wildlife around us,” said outdoor educator Meghan Manary. “We find that there are cranes landing in people’s yards, foxes, and we would love to see what’s in your yards and what you are finding right amongst us in nature. You’d be surprised what you can find right in your front or back yard.”

The City Nature Challenge runs through May 2. Just snap and upload your pictures of wildlife, plants or aquatic species to the iNaturalist app. The identification period is May 3-8.

A Mini Bioblitz is scheduled for May 2 at Cody Park from 10 a.m. to noon.

Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk, and Scottsbluff are also participating in the competition.