Grasslands are great: Benefits for wildlife and Michigan residents
Jan. 26, 2017
 What is a grassland? What kinds of wildlife can be found in grasslands and why do they thrive in this habitat type? Why should we care about grasslands? These and many other questions will be answered as we explore the great world of grasslands and how they benefit the people of Michigan.
Over the course of the year, we’ll be sending a series of stories about grasslands and the variety of benefits they provide to wildlife and people. Many may not know that grasslands help to improve water and air quality – important for all of us in Michigan and throughout the world. They are also simply stunning to view in mid-to-late summer, when the prairie wildflowers are in full bloom.
Grasslands can be found all over the world, from the savannas of Africa to the steppes of Russia to the plains and prairies of North America. They are characterized by – you guessed it – grass. Grasses form most of the plant life, and natural grazing, wildfires and periodic drought help to keep woody plants from growing in grasslands. The soil in grasslands is nutrient-rich from the growth and decay of deep grass roots.
Many creatures make their homes in Michigan’s grasslands. A variety of songbirds use the grasses for nesting and feeding, including red-winged blackbirds, savannah sparrows, ring-necked pheasants and eastern meadowlarks. Pollinators like bees and butterflies love the wildflowers that grow in grasslands, and many mammals make their homes in grasslands too. Badgers, meadow voles, coyotes and white-tailed deer rely on grasslands. Believe it or not, even American bison once roamed Michigan’s southern prairies.
Grasslands have become increasingly rare over the last 150 years due to the conversion of grasslands to agricultural land. The rich soil and lack of trees made prairies, plains and other grasslands in North America prime lands for farming. The conversion of grassland to farmland led to a decrease in many grassland wildlife and plant species.
Luckily, in our state, the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative is working to improve and enhance Michigan’s remaining grasslands on private and public lands in southern Michigan. Extensive grassland restoration work is in progress at Lake Hudson State Recreation Area in Lenawee County, Verona State Game Area in Huron County, Sharonville State Game Area in Jackson and Washtenaw counties, and Maple River State Game Area in Gratiot County, as well as other public and private lands in southern Michigan. In addition, the federal Farm Bill helps to restore grasslands by offering farmers financial reimbursement for conservation practices, including planting grasslands and buffer strips.
Made up of many partners, the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative is a conservation initiative to restore and enhance Michigan pheasant habitat (grasslands), populations, and hunting opportunities on private and public lands via pheasant cooperatives. The initiative works by acquiring state and federal resources to assist landowners in the cooperatives to improve wildlife habitat on their properties and by improving grassland habitat on selected state game areas, recreation areas or other public lands. To learn more, visit www.mi.gov/pheasant.
/Editors’ note: Contact – Holly Vaughn, 313-396-6863 or Al Stewart, 517-284-6221. An accompanying photo is available below for download. Suggested caption:
Grasslands provide important habitat for wildlife./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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