Many species such as the pronghorn and black-tailed prairie dog, have made special adaptations to the harsh extremes of the prairie environment. Because there is no place to hide from predators, the pronghorn uses speed to survive. The pronghorn is the fastest animal in North America, having been clocked at 70 mph. The habit of burrowing is widespread on the grasslands. The most obvious burrowing animal is the prairie dog.
Burrows provide excellent shelter from predators and the weather extremes.
Prairie dog colonies, or towns, are great places to see wildlife since they attract a variety of other species including swift fox and the endangered black-footed ferret, for which recovery plans are underway. Water is the lifeblood of the prairie. Annual precipitation, either snow or rain, primarily determines how productive the land is on an annual basis. Average precipitation is 15 inches, thus, grasses and other plants adapted to a semi-arid environment are the rule. Trees and shrubs are found almost exclusively along river drainages and intermittent creeks.