Studying Animals in Extreme Landscapes

This update was written by landscape ecologist Hila Shamon.
A camera trap photo of a hoofed animal (called a pronghorn) with thick fur, big ears and large, flattened antlers walking across the wide-open grasslands of the American prairie

Every time I meet a visiting researcher, their first reaction is “Wow, the scale of this place!” My study area on the American Prairie Reserve and the surrounding area in Montana spans more than 2 million acres. I’ve lived here for a year and can tell you the landscape is fierce, beautiful and always surprising.

I often wonder how wildlife can survive the extreme weather — from raging winds and thunderstorms to blazing heat and freezing cold. And yet it does. Pronghorn, mule deer, elk and many more mammals call the prairies, shrublands, forests, rivers and streams of the Northern Great Plains home. So do ranchers and farmers.

A caravan of camels crosses a desert with a blue sky above.
Grant Awarded to Prevent Emerging Diseases
Photo of a young beaver standing on a patch of grass. She is holding something between her paws and gnawing on it.
One-year-old Juniper is settling in well at the National Zoo.
Photo of a young beaver sitting in a grassy field. She is investigating several cut up vegetables in front of her, including carrots, broccoli and sweet potato.
Keepers describe Juniper as a foodie! She eats a a mix of vegetation, but seems to love sweet potatoes the most.
Photo of a young beaver sitting in a grassy field. She is investigating several cut up vegetables in front of her, including carrots, broccoli and sweet potato.
Keepers describe Juniper as a bit of a foodie! She eats a variety of vegetation, but it seems sweet potatoes are her favorite snack.
Photo of a young beaver standing on a patch of grass. She is holding something between her paws and gnawing on it.
North American beavers like Juniper are a major conservation success story!
Photo of a Bennett's Wallaby standing in a grassy field.
Keepers say Winton is still a little shy at the moment, but is playful with our female wallabies.
Western lowland gorilla infant Zahra at 14 days old.
#GorillaStory: Welcome, Zahra!

Understanding how human activity affects wildlife is important for land managers, because once we understand the problems we can think of ways to mitigate and manage them. Learning how animals interact — whether as predator and prey, or as species competing for the same resources — is also key.

I hope the results of this study can direct management decisions and contribute to restoration efforts for this grassland habitat.

Want to know more about this project? Check out additional videos, photos and blogs from the field.

Related Species:

American bison

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