Most of the escarpment lies within the
Pawnee National Grasslands. As the bluffs are primarily barren and protected from fire. However trees normally found in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains are found there, including:
Ponderosa pine,
Rocky Mountain juniper,
limber pine, and
mountain mahogany. Numerous
raptors nest on the cliffs including
Swainson's hawks,
ferruginous hawks,
golden eagles, and
prairie falcons. The bluffs are a favorite site for
birdwatching. It has been recognized by the
National Audubon Society as a site of "global importance". ==Chalk Bluffs Natural Area==