What is a Prairie?
A prairie is a temperate grassland, plains of grass that get hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Most of the interior of North America was a prairie before European settlement radically altered the environment with agriculure. Even now, the prairie is a large area. • Tall Grass Prairie – areas with rich soil, moderate precipitation and tall grasses (over 5 feet = 1.5 m tall) • Short Grass Prairie – areas with little precipitation and short grass (less than 2 feet = 61 cm tall). These areas are usually unsuitable for agriculture. Animal Adaptations: The animals that live in prairies have adapted to a semi-arid, windy environment with few trees or shrubs. They can also withstand a great range in temperature, from well below freezing in the winter to sweltering heat in the summer. Where are Prairies? Prairies are located in the interior of North America. Animals that Live in Prairies: Many animals live in prairies, from invertebrates (like grasshoppers and beetles) to large mammals
