On the prairies of Oklahoma, which are mostly dry, you can see bluestem, dropseeds, June grass, needlegrasses, and side oats grama. Hundreds of species of other plants can also be found on the prairie. They add highlights of red, orange, purple, and other colors to the rolling land. Flowers such as asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, and sunflowers can be found. A few small trees, such as cottonwoods and oaks, provide a little shade.
Many animals depend on the prairies for food.
Jack rabbits, deer, and pronghorns feed on the leaves, roots, and seeds of prairie plants. Other animals use this land for shelter and nests to raise their young. Mice and prairie dogs dig burrows, while blackbirds, quail, and sparrows use the thick grass to build their nests. A wide variety of other animals can be found there, ranging from coyotes to snakes and from badgers to grasshoppers. The soil also contains millions of tiny organisms that speed the process of decay among the dead plants and animals.