Normally a variant of tallgrass prairie, they are found on south-southwest-facing slopes, which receive considerable winter sun, causing a frequent freeze-thaw cycle.
Open grasslands along this stretch of the Mississippi are rapidly colonized by mixed forests.
However, the low moisture content of the slopes, the winter freeze-thaw cycle, and the thin layer of soil help to keep goat prairies free of trees.
Human suppression of natural fire has greatly reduced their numbers.
For publicly owned goat prairies, fire has been carefully set and contained.