Grasslands support distinctive wildlife communities whose welfare is threatened by conversion to agriculture, overgrazing, and fire suppression.
Grassland wildlife welfare is primarily a habitat conservation issue: the conversion of native grassland to agriculture eliminates the food, shelter, and territorial requirements of specialist prairie species. Individual animals displaced from converted grasslands compete in reduced habitats with greater predation pressure and resource scarcity. Prairie dog poisoning programs — persisting on some cattle ranches — cause prolonged welfare harm to a keystone species that supports dozens of others.