Right now you are in a very lively place! To find out why, imagine yourself as a small animal standing at the bottom of the gully. One thing you might notice is the amount of moisture . After a major rain, this little ravine will flow with water. Even when it appears dry, it still contains more water than the surrounding forest or prairie. The additional moisture allows for greater plant diversity, which supports more animal life.

As you hike, notice the different plants and animals in these lifelines.