protected grassland in North Dakota, USA
The Little Missouri National Grassland is composed of 1.025 million acres of public lands that are administered by the U.S. Forest Service. It is a vast area that offers numerous outdoor activities ranging from camping to canoeing, hiking to hunting.
Where pristine vistas inspire the imagination; where the rugged unspoiled beauty of the landscape invites exploration; and where the sights and sounds of the wide, rolling prairie stimulates the senses. (from the US Forest Service web site).
The national grasslands offer views of elk, antelope, whitetail and mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, sharptail grouse, pheasants, wild turkeys, eagles, falcons, and the busy prairie dogs. They are not contiguous blocks of land, but are interspersed with other federal, state, and privately owned lands. Uses of the national grasslands include paleontological and archaeological digs, oil and gas production, cattle grazing, and recreation.Scientists also have the opportunity to study plants and animals, rocks and minerals, air and water resources.