The reproductive habitat preferences of the endangered American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus Olivier) are being examined at nine established habitat types at Camp Gruber Army Training Facility in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. Two 200 gram carcasses (Rattus rattus) were made available for burial at two replicate locations for each of the nine habitats (18 total locations) from May 30th – June 8th, 2006. Buried carcasses were covered with a mesh enclosure to trap departing N. americanus parents and newly eclosed offspring. Nine carcasses were successfully buried at six different habitat locations within a 72.39 kilometer² study area. Within this area the mean distance between all baited sites was 6.39 kilometers, while the mean distance between the six active sites was 4.35 kilometers. N. americanus moved carcasses a maximum of 1.0 meter before burial. Observation of carcasses is ongoing to determine time until adult departure, developmental time of offspring and demographics. Soil samples at all sites are being analyzed to determine if reproductive success correlates with soil compaction, moisture, pH, temperature, nitrate, phosphate or organic content. Additionally, carcasses will be excavated to determine burial depth. Implications for species conservation will be discussed.