Tall-grass prairies have largely vanished from the Midwestern landscape, making them one of the region's most threatened habitats. Prairie restoration, however, offers hope by working to revive the native flora and fauna that once flourished in these ecosystems. My research investigates the composition of small mammal communities in restored prairies and evaluates their responses to habitat and landscape covariates. Small mammals play critical roles in ecosystem functioning across trophic levels and are highly sensitive to habitat disturbances, making them invaluable indicators for ecological assessments. Many species, like the elusive western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), are difficult to monitor or even photograph due to their cryptic behavior and petite size. Despite these challenges, studying small mammal communities provides researchers and land managers with essential insights into the health and functionality of both restored and remnant ecosystems.