Fescue limits movement and provides little cover for wildlife. It has also proven to be poor quality for livestock grazing. According to Mark Gudlin, TWRA's small game program coordinator, native grasses are good conservation choices. They are good for soil erosion, soil building and water purification, are drought tolerant and do not require fertilizer. The benefits to wildlife are great.
Native wildflowers have room to grow in the spaces also providing food and shelter.
In areas where native grasses have been established, there has been significant increase in game animals, such as deer, quail, turkey and rabbits. Non-game animal diversity increases as well. Prairie dog, fox, and coyote are associated with grasslands. Birds include prairie chicken, hawks, owls, meadowlarks, sparrows, especially the Henslow Sparrow, a declining migratory bird. Grasses and associated sedges and rushes growing in marshes and swamps provide food for migratory birds including ducks and geese.