2009 Tallgrass Prairie

Natural grasslands, meadows and wooded bluffs once dominated the plains of North America, with wildflowers blooming in succession through the summer as the tall grasses grew up to seed. Butterflies and birds flitted through the flora, while herds of grazing animals razed the plants and then moved on to greener places. Yearly flooding replenished nutrients to the soils and grass fires kept woody trees from establishing themselves. Today, very little remains of those natural ecosystems—less than 25% of the Tallgrass Aspen parkland eco-region is in a natural state, and less than 1% of native tallgrass prairie remains.