Located along the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway, Lynch, Neb., is home to Old Baldy, which served as a historical landmark for riverboats. In 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped here and saw its first prairie dog village. Captain Lewis noted that these animals are about the size of a small squirrel, weighing from three to three-and-a-half pounds, with shorter ears like a guinea pig's and tail like a ground squirrel. Six or eight usually lived in one burrow, which never had more than one entrance. Captain Lewis also wrote that the prairie dog village covered acres of land. The prairie dogs sat upright at the holes, where they made whistling noises and ducked back inside when alarmed. When people approached them, they barked like little toy dogs. These prairie dogs were not easy to capture. The Corps spent hours chasing them and digging after them down the holes. One burrow was noted at more than 12 feet deep. The expedition finally flushed one out by pouring buckets of water into its burrow. The effort was worth it as of the six animals sent back East from Fort Mandan, only two lived through the 4,000 mile journey: one magpie and the prairie dog.

Be sure to purchase one of the famous Lynch Dawgs - a stuffed toy prairie dog which was developed in 2004 in celebration of the Lewis and Clark Commemoration.

Lynch, NE Website