Animals
The grasslands are home to many amazing animals. Each area of this biome has its own variety of creatures. You may find bison, elk, jack rabbits, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, golden eagles, coyotes, badgers, and much more. Big or small, each animal does its part in keeping the grasslands healthy.The burrowing animals help to air out the soil making it a better place for grass to grow. Grazing animals eat the grass and make more room for new plants to grow. Carnivores such as hawks, coyotes, and lions, eat the smaller animals so that a single species doesn't overpopulate the grasslands.
Bison
This animal's true name is the American bison, but most people call them buffalo. They have protected against the cold by their shaggy wind proof coats, and in winter they grow a much heavier coat. Bison find grass to eat in winter by swinging their great heads from side to side to clear out the snow.Herds of buffalo tend to huddle together for warmth and the younger calves snug in the middle, well out of the wind.
Bison once controlled the grassland and prairie ecosystems of the United States. When the first explorers came to the Great Plains, it is estimated that over 40 million bison roamed the land. By 1900, a little over 1,000 bison could be found with only a handful of wild bison left in Yellow Stone Park.
Bison once controlled the grassland and prairie ecosystems of the United States. When the first explorers came to the Great Plains, it is estimated that over 40 million bison roamed the land. By 1900, a little over 1,000 bison could be found with only a handful of wild bison left in Yellow Stone Park.
Leopard
Leopards have very thin coats of fur. That helps them survive in hot places like deserts, grasslands, and forests. Those places get lots of sunlight and they are located mostly in Asia and Africa. Leopards can camouflage good too in these places. Since prey cannot see it when it camouflages, it can sneak up on it and attack it. When a leopard stalks prey, it keeps a low profile and slinks through the grass or bush until it is close enough to launch an attack. When not hunting, it can move through herds of antelopes without disturbing them by flipping its tail over its back to reveal the white underside, a sign that it is not seeking prey.
Puma
The puma can tolerate habitats varying from temperate, coniferous forests to low, multistrata, and Tropical Rain-forests. Pumas are carnivores, usually stalking hoofed animals, such as deer, elk, cows and sheep. They are also known to hunt smaller animals such as rodents and birds. They can survive on one deer over a period of 2 weeks, although this time frame can change due to different circumstances. For example, if the puma has cubs, she will need to hunt more often. They also have strong digestive systems for all the meat they eat.