Mammals adapted to this ecosystem are associated with grasslands and the montane forest. Some make their homes in the grass, such as the meadow vole, while others, such as elk and deer, migrate down to this ecosystem for critical range in the winter.

Elk		Western Jumping Mouse		Columbian Ground Squirrel		Grizzly Bear
Long-tailed Weasel		Bighorn Sheep		Masked Shrew		Meadow Vole

Birds like the sandhill crane, bald eagle, grasshopper sparrow, Wilson's snipe, bobolink, yellow warblers, and osprey live in these grassland and riparian valleys.

Northern Harrier		Western Meadowlark		Savannah Sparrow		Upland Sandpiper
American Kestrel		Sandhill Crane		Grasshopper Sparrow		Bald Eagle

This ecosystem is home to amphibians and reptiles of both the grasslands and montane forest. Terrestrial garter snakes, spotted frogs, western toads, and painted turtles can be found here. The leopard frog once ranged throughout this ecosystem, but today this species can only be found east of the continental divide.

Terrestrial Gartersnake		Western Toad

The large rivers and their tributaries of the intermountain grassland support a cold-water fishery. Although these are some of the nation's most famous trout rivers, many other native fish species take advantage of these highly productive waters.

Mottled Sculpin		Longnose Sucker		Burbot		Mountain Whitefish