mam-mal n. any warm-blooded vertebrate of the class mammalia, characterized by a covering of hair on some or most of the body, a four chambered heart, and nourishment of the newborn with milk from maternal mammary glands.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is home to hundreds of species of animals. Of these there is potentially 45 different species that are mammals.  Being mammals ourselves we perhaps take more interest in wild mammals than in any other animal group. Note  that the word mammal is different than animal, though they are often used interchangeably.

Mammals can be found in all habitats in varying abundance. Many are secretive and so are rarely seen. Even more mammals are nocturnal and only come out at night. The wildlife watcher should learn the tracks of the mammals they seek, as this may be the only way of knowing if a species is present.