Dry prairies are large native grass- and shrub-lands that occur on flat terrain which may be punctuated by cypress domes and freshwater marshes. Large trees may dot the prairie, but the habitat is dominated by grasses and shrubs like saw palmetto, fetterbush, and wiregrass. Historically, fire was an important influence on this habitat, keeping the tree canopy at bay. Now, land managers use prescribed fire to mimic the natural process, since some wildlife is dependent on the grassy, shrubby nature of the prairie. Crested Caracaras and Burrowing Owl are among the birds you can find in the dry prairie of Florida.
