Today bison and elk can only be found at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. Coyotes, however, are abundant and are widely hunted or trapped for their pelt. Other fur bearers that provide recreational and economic benefits through the harvest of their fur include the badger, muskrat, mink, raccoon, and beaver. The many lakes and groundwater-fed streams of the Sand Hills provide a home for a great variety of interesting, and in some cases rare, fish. Among the smaller fish of interest to aquarium lovers and those who study fish behavior are the minnow, darter, dace, brook stickleback, and topminnow.
Anglers can find such species as northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and trout.
The geographical position of the Sand Hills also contributes to the diversity of life forms found in the area. A central theme in all of the chapters on the biology of the Sand Hills is the presence of species typical of both the more humid east and the drier west. From the west along the Niobrara River extends a corridor of Rocky Mountain ponderosa-pine forest. Thus, in many ways the Sand Hills is a transitional zone where east meets and intermingles with west. In addition to the eastern and western influences on the Sand Hills biota, one can also see influences from the past.