We evaluated several factors that potentially influence where the federally endangered American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) is most abundant. We investigated associations of numbers of beetles and measures of abundance of vertebrates at Camp Gruber Military Reservation, Oklahoma. During summer 2003, 87 sites were surveyed for beetles (baited pitfall-traps), birds (modified point-count transects), and mammals (Museum Special snap-traps and rat traps), finding significant rank correlations of number of beetles with number of species of birds, number of individual birds, and biomass of birds but not with similar measures for mammals. Combined biomass of birds and mammals was significantly associated with number of beetles. Path analysis, considering four possible direct influences of measures for vertebrates on beetles, indicated number of beetles was directly and positively affected by biomass of birds and biomass of mammals and inversely by number of individual mammals, while number of individual birds was unrelated to numbers of beetles. Beetles tended to be at sites with fewer but larger mammals that were ≤200 g. Path analysis provided the most informative assessment in that variables potentially influencing beetle numbers were considered simultaneously. While results for Camp Gruber were not identical to those of a similar study at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, both indicated N. americanus was more likely in places frequented by vertebrates. The association might be due to beetles being attracted to places with more vertebrates because carcasses likely were more abundant; alternatively, suitable environmental conditions may attract vertebrates and N. americanus. Also, beetles may have increased reproductive success at such sites. Lack of covariation of numbers of avian and mammalian species at sites strengthens the supposition of beetles being attracted to sites because of birds and mammals found there.