The Niobrara River valley has been referred to as a biological crossroads. Lying almost in the middle of the 100th meridian, where the humid air of the East meets the drier air of the West, six distinct ecosystems exist, including the only instance in the United States where Rocky Mountain pine forest, northern forest, eastern deciduous forest, tallgrass prairie, mixed-grass prairie, and sandhills prairie converge. Exploring a Vast Ecosystem As a biological crossroads, the Niobrara River valley hosts an exceptionally diverse range of life. Birds share the airspace with seven species of bats including the red bat, silver-haired bat, and keen myotis. Over 30 species of amphibians, as well as the prairie rattlesnake, make their home here.
Plant life exists in profusion.
Trees include ponderosa pine, cottonwood, quaking aspen, paper birch, American elm, and eastern red cedar. Grasslands are home to little bluestem, switchgrass, blue grama, and sideoats grama, among others. Wildflowers such as milkweed and sunflower can be found in large numbers. Other plants like yucca and prickly pear grow in the mixed-grass prairies north of the Niobrara.