Mammals living in the plains grasslands have specific adaptations that help them live in this ecosystem such as the nomadic lifestyle of pronghorn antelope that relies on speed and help from the herd to avoid predators. Other mammals are adapted to a lifestyle below the ground where they can escape predators, stay warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. Examples of some of these excellent diggers are badgers, Richardson's ground squirrels, prairie dogs and northern pocket gophers. Other mammals like the bobcat and mule deer find the plains forest a suitable habitat.

Pronghorn Antelope		Swift Fox		Mule Deer		Coyote
Desert Cottontail		Western Small-footed Myotis Bat		Black-tailed Prairie Dog		Bobcat

Birds on the plains have adapted to a lifestyle of nesting on the ground, in the shrubs, or trees in the isolated plains forests. One bird, the burrowing owl, has even adapted to nesting below the ground in burrows. Abundant insects and seeds of the grasslands provide these birds with food. Many of Montana’s bird species are also dependent on the riparian habitats found along plains rivers and streams.

Long-billed Curlew		Prairie Falcon		Golden Eagle		Red-tailed Hawk
Burrowing Owls		Horned Lark		Plains Sharp-tailed Grouse		Mountain Plover
Red Crossbill		Pinyon Jay		Chipping Sparrow

Amphibians in the plains have adapted to a dry climate. Some of these animals may live 15 to 20 years, an important strategy because during times of drought there may not be enough water to breed. Reptiles found on the plains, such as the prairie rattlesnake, are not as restricted to a water source because they often get all the water they need from consuming their prey. All these species have figured out ways to survive Montana’s long cold winters by burying themselves in the soil, mud of a river, or in a rocky den site.

Great Plains Toad		Woodhouse's Toad		Spiny Softshell

The warm waters of the plains rivers contain the greatest diversity of fish found in all of Montana. These species include the prehistoric shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish, blue sucker, and channel catfish. Many of the fish living in the large, slow flowing rivers have adapted to the turbid water conditions by developing special adaptations for living in such conditions such as the sensitive paddle of the paddlefish and the barbels of the sturgeon, and the bottom feeding habits of the blue sucker.

Paddlefish		Blue Sucker		Pallid Sturgeon		Goldeye