Northern Great Plains

The Nature Conservancy is working with partners to preserve some of the largest and most significant grasslands in the U.S.

Landscape view of rolling golden grasslands with a lone tree standing in the middle of a field. — Bitter Creek grass & hills Private ranchland now protected adjacent to Bitter Creek Wilderness Study Area in Montana's Northern Great Plains © Brian Martin

Stretching across five states (Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming) and two Canadian provinces (Alberta and Saskatchewan), the Northern Great Plains encompasses 76 million acres of native grassland habitat—the largest collection of intact and connected grasslands in North America.

Map of the northern great plains spanning five U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. — **Northern Great Plains** Map of the grasslands that includes parts of U.S. states Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming and Canadian provinces Alberta and Saskatchewan. © TNC

Wildlife of the Northern Great Plains

Grassland bird numbers have declined by more than 50% since the 1970s, but species such as mountain plovers, burrowing owls, chestnut-collared longspurs and Sprague’s pipits make their home in the Northern Great Plains. The region also supports deer, elk and rare species such as black-tailed prairie dogs, swift foxes and black-footed ferrets.

A black-footed ferret stands on all fours in a dirt landscape.

Black-Footed Ferret: Endangered black-footed ferret released back to the prairie shows hair dye painted on its throat by the wildlife biologist who examined it, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, South Dakota. © Bill Allen

A medium-sized bird with a white chest and golden-brown back stands on dirt.

Mountain Plover: Despite the name, the mountain plover is a shortgrass prairie native, preferring barren ground for nesting. © Dave Showalter

A mother pronghorn stands with her two fawns in a grassland.

Pronghorn and Fawns: During their migration, some pronghorn travel more than 500 miles round-trip. Their journey represents the longest land mammal migration in the lower 48 states. © Scott Copeland

Two red-colored fox pups play with each other in a dirt landscape.

Swift Fox Pups: Although historically common in the Great Plains, swift foxes are now estimated to occupy less than half of their historic range in the United States. © Bob Gress

A burrowing owl stands in a dirt landscape and looks at the camera.

Burrowing Owl: Burrowing owls are one of the many species that call the Northern Great Plains home. © Mark Skalny

Migrating pronghorn depend on Northern Great Plains grasslands, too. Some start their journey in Saskatchewan and Alberta, traveling more than 500 miles round-trip on their seasonal migrations. Their journey represents the longest land mammal migration in the lower 48 states.

The region is also home to hardy ranching families and Tribal Nations who have stewarded the land through the generations and are vital partners in its conservation.

Threats in the Northern Great Plains

The most significant threat facing grasslands in the Northern Great Plains is conversion to cropland. As grasslands are plowed and developed for row crop agriculture, prairie habitat continues to shrink. In addition to cropland conversion, several other factors place increasing pressure on these landscapes:

An oil rig is silhouetted against an orange sunset sky.

Oil and Gas Production

Growing demand for domestic energy has accelerated oil and gas development across the Northern Great Plains. Roads, pipelines and other infrastructure fragment large, continuous areas of grassland, disrupting wildlife movement and degrading habitat quality.

A herd of cattle stand together, with one black cow staring directly into the camera.

Economic Pressures

As volatile, unprofitable beef markets undermine ranching’s viability, selling land for development or cultivation may appear to be the only route to financial stability for ranching families, further diminishing prairie habitat.

A pronghorn stands next to a wire fence and looks over it toward a dirt field with construction equipment in it.

Fencing

Hundreds of miles of fencing crisscross prairie landscapes, much of it outdated or no longer necessary. These barriers hinder the movement of migratory species and create hazards for wildlife such as deer, elk, pronghorn and a range of bird species.

Closeup of tall golden grasses on a hillside.

Invasive Plants and Diseases

Grassland ecosystems are also threatened by the spread of invasive weeds and diseases. Invasive plants can outcompete native vegetation, while diseases such as sylvatic plague and West Nile virus pose serious risks to wildlife.

Our Work

Chestnut-collared longspur The chestnut-collared longspur thrives in the Northern Great Plains. © Rachel Hopper

Protection

Working with partners, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has successfully protected some of the most crucial private lands in need of preservation through the use of conservation easements.

This protection work also benefits other wildlife, including several species of declining grassland birds. Ranchers and landowners have been essential partners in this success.

TNC is also partnering with Native Nations that have lived in these lands and stewarded the grasslands since time immemorial, in coordination with TNC’s larger Indigenous engagement efforts.

Management

Research shows that grassbanks—such as the 60,000-acre Matador Ranch in north-central Montana—are a win-win for ranchers and grasslands. Ranchers get access to high-quality forage for their cattle in exchange for implementing conservation practices on their own lands. The result? Healthier rangelands, improved wildlife habitat and strengthened rural economies.

Because of Matador Ranch’s success in protecting at-risk grasslands from development, advancing sustainable ranching and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, TNC is working to start up similar grassbanks across the region. We are now working with a local, rancher-led collaborative, the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, on a second grassbank and consulting with community-led groups to create their own grassbanks.

By aligning economic viability with ecological stewardship, grassbanking helps secure one of the world’s last remaining large, functioning grassland ecosystems while sustaining the communities that depend on it.