Prairies/Grasslands

Eagle An eagle’s eyes are far enough forward that it can see in three dimensions. This helps an eagle judge distances so it can catch its prey more easily.

Rattlesnake A rattlesnake has unique jaws that actually unhinge to about 180 degrees so that they can swallow their prey whole.

Deer A deer’s thin head and body allow for fast movement through vegetation. Their hair coat changes color twice a year for better camouflage.

Meadowlark Meadowlarks have a strong, finely-pointed slender bill and streaky upperparts patterned very much like dried prairie grass. This helps them probe for food while hiding from predators.

Bison The bison has a thick, brown coat for protection during the cold winter months on the prairie. They shed their coat in the spring to form a lighter coat for warmer weather.

Horses A horse’s adaptations are for life in the wide open spaces of a grassland. Horses are marathon runners, able to sustain speed for considerable distances and a mile-eating trot seemingly for hours.

Prairie dog One of the greatest adaptations of the prairie dog is their homes.  These tunnels are built at an angle to prevent flooding.

Monarch butterfly Their bold coloration serves as a warning to predators that they are not good to eat.

Tall Grasses The roots may extend to depths of 9 feet or more, binding the soil and enriching it with organic matter as roots die back at the end of the growing season. The above-ground parts of the plants also die down in winter and are converted to abundant humus when bacterial action begins in the spring.

wildflowers Since wildflowers must occupy the same space on the prairie as grasses, they have adapted ways to guarantee their share of water and sunlight. Most send their roots deeper into the soil than grass roots, which allows them to tap water the grasses cannot reach. To make sure they receive adequate sunlight for growth, the shortest wildflowers bloom early in the spring before grasses have time to grow and overshadow them.

short grasses These grasses grow in areas of little rainfall and little other vegetation.

Elk Elk have a special four-part stomach that can digest grasses, shrubs, tree limbs, and bark.

Coyote Coyotes are smart animals and when they sense trouble, they don't investigate, they run. This protects them from hunters.

Prairie