The southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi) has been designated a species in need of conservation in Kansas. Typically, it has been reported to use moist habitats such as those associated with artesian springs, marshes or watercourses and more recently with wet roadside ditches and fencerows. In contrast, we report the presence of the southern bog lemming in open, xeric habitats (e.g., sites with sparse vegetation on west-facing slopes or on sandy to gravelly surfaces) in Osborne and Lincoln counties in north-central Kansas. Furthermore, these sites were not near marshy or even mesic sites. We advocate more research to determine the conservation status of the southern bog lemming in the central and western portions of the state given the predicted arid conditions (i.e., lower annual precipitation and warmer temperatures) likely to develop owing to global climate change.