Northern Great Plains
Conserving the living prairie
Featured Story
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Once thought to be globally extinct, black-footed ferrets are making a comeback. Read more
The wide open spaces of the Northern Great Plains are home to many of our country’s most iconic and endangered wildlife, like pronghorn antelope, elk and black-footed ferrets.
Its vast prairies, diverse grasses, wildflowers, and meandering streams and rivers span more than 180 million acres across Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and two Canadian provinces. The area is larger than California and Nevada combined.
This landscape is one of the world’s last intact grasslands, but changes are threatening this natural and cultural heartland. This American habitat faces an uncertain future because of:
- habitat fragmentation
- climate change
- oil and gas exploration
But, WWF helps to safeguard America’s prairie wildlife and lifestyle by working with scientists, government leaders and traditional land stewards, like ranchers and Native tribes. Our ultimate vision is a landscape valued for both its wildlife and its culture— a place where people live in harmony with nature.
WWF works to conserve the living prairie and address these threats through:
- collaboration with tribal leaders, private landowners and land management agencies to improve land and wildlife management practices
- creation of opportunities to reward landowners for conservation practices
- conservation and restoration of endangered and threatened species and their habitats
Threats: Main threats include habitat fragmentation, climate change, and oil and gas exploration. Learn more
Species: From the majestic bison to the black-tailed prairie dog, the dancing sage grouse and endangered black-footed ferret, these grasslands are home to more than 1,500 plant species, hundreds of birds and butterflies and more than 90 mammals. Learn more
People: Many people living on the prairie can trace their roots back generations; centuries for Native Americans. The virtues of cultural pride, hard work and tight-knit communities shape much of the culture of the Northern Great Plains.
Related Global Markets
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Podcast
Hear the story of how WWF helped a masked bandit return to the prairie in this podcast.
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Adopt a Black-footed Ferret
Make a symbolic black-footed ferret adoption to help save some of the world's most endangered animals from extinction and support WWF's conservation efforts.
