The shrub-steppe ecosystem is known for its vast scenery of sage brush and grassland covering rolling hills. This landscape is unique to the western United States and it covers not only Eastern Washington, but also parts of Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. 

Eastern Washington is known for its farmlands and they contribute to a larger percentage of Washington State's increasing agricultural industry. This growth, while profitable and beneficial for the state, is negatively affecting the shrub-steppe habitat and the species that reside within this delicate ecosystem.