Habitat and Distribution: Big sagebrush is distributed throughout all the western United States. It can be found on arid desert floors (about 3500ft.) to higher elevation mountain slopes (about 10,000ft). It prefers to grow in moderately shallow to deep, well drained, soils. Big sagebrush is drought tolerant but cannot stand excessive sub-soil moisture.
Wildlife: Big sagebrush is a very important shrub to many species of animals. It provides food, nesting cover and escape cover to a variety of mammals and birds. Probably the heaviest consumers of big sagebrush are the sage grouse. These upland game birds make up 70-75 percent of their diets from the foliage and flowers of sagebrush. It is also very important as forage for mule deer and elk in winter months when other grasses and browse are covered in snow.