Last updated: July 20, 2025
Place
Land of Many Habitats
Land of Many Habitats
The juniper and sagebrush you see (and smell) around you are a part of a juniper woodland community, one of three plant communities found at Lava Beds. The northern third of the monument is dominated by bunchgrass, sagebrush, and rabbitbrush, while the higher elevations to the south harbor ponderosa pine forest. Immerse yourself in all three to discover the subtle and not so subtle differences.
Human impacts have introduced exotic plants, such to Lava Beds. They often outcompete native species like bunchgrass (right), which provide more nutrients for deer and other browsers.
Both natural and presribed low intensity fires help old growth forests thrive and keep grasslands productive for the animals that depend on them for food and shelter.
Fifty years of fire suppression and persistent drought have allowed juniper to spread, while ponderosa pine are increasingly challenged to survive.
The juniper and sagebrush you see (and smell) around you are a part of a juniper woodland community, one of three plant communities found at Lava Beds. The northern third of the monument is dominated by bunchgrass, sagebrush, and rabbitbrush, while the higher elevations to the south harbor ponderosa pine forest. Immerse yourself in all three to discover the subtle and not so subtle differences.
Human impacts have introduced exotic plants, such to Lava Beds. They often outcompete native species like bunchgrass (right), which provide more nutrients for deer and other browsers.
Both natural and presribed low intensity fires help old growth forests thrive and keep grasslands productive for the animals that depend on them for food and shelter.
Fifty years of fire suppression and persistent drought have allowed juniper to spread, while ponderosa pine are increasingly challenged to survive.