Large mammals, such as Roosevelt elk, black-tail deer, black bear, and coyote, use grasslands as foraging areas and/or travel routes to adjacent lands. Smaller mammals, such as voles and mice, thrive in grasslands. These smaller mammals serve as prey for raptors such as red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, American kestrels, and various species of owls, all of which use open grasslands as hunting grounds. Songbird and shorebird species use grasslands to rest, nest and feed.
3 of 8. Vitamin D really does the body good. In addition to aiding in the absorption of calcium to build strong muscles and bones, vitamin D helps reduce inflammation and regulate the immune system. Sources: Fatty fish, liver oils, fortified milk products, fortified cereals, meats, eggs, sunlight.
Vitamin D is a nutrient found in some foods that is needed for health and to maintain strong bones. It does so by helping the body absorb calcium (one of bone's main building blocks) from food and supplements. People who get too little vitamin D may develop soft, thin, and brittle bones, a condition known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Vitamin D is important to the body in many other ways as well. Muscles need it to move, for example, nerves need it to carry messages between the brain and every body part, and the immune system needs vitamin D to fight off invading bacteria and viruses.