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The Cypress Hills contain four distinct ecosystems, making it a place exceptionally rich in wildlife and plant species.

The montane ecosystem is made up of three forest types — lodgepole pine, aspen and white spruce woodlands.

The lodgepole pine, the predominant forest in Cypress Hills, was named for its long straight trunk, which Native people used for teepee poles. French fur traders mistook them for cypress or jack pines — thus giving the area its name. Extending from Saskatchewan to the hills' western extremity in Alberta, the lodgepole forest grows in drier areas and at higher elevations than other forests in the region. Lodgepole pines can also be found growing singly on the grass-covered plateau, where they take on a bushier appearance than in the forests.

Below the lodgepole forests in a belt along the north side of the plateau are the aspen woodlands, which include balsam poplar and trembling aspen. The aspen have also spread out on to surrounding prairies, following moist creek beds, and to the top of the plateau. Under the canopy of trees many other plant species are found, including Saskatoon berries, chokecherries, willows, hawthorns, northern gooseberries, wild white geraniums and wild strawberries.

The white spruce forest is found in cool, moist areas near springs on north facing slopes. The low-growing forest contains three vertical layers: the upper layer, at about adult-height, is made up of red-osier dogwoods, willows and low-bush cranberries; the metre-high mid layer contains red baneberries; lowest to the ground sit bunchberries, twinflowers, orchids and mosses.

The woodlands provide shelter and cover for mammals like red squirrels, porcupines, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, white-footed mice, snowshoe hares, bobcats and the occasional lynx. The lodgepole pine forests also provide an excellent habitat for a variety of birds, including the yellow-rumped warbler, dark-eyed junco, hairy woodpecker, great horned owl and ruffed grouse. The aspen and white-spruce forests support populations of the mountain bluebird, rufous-sided towhee, Swainson's thrush, least flycatcher, western wood peewee, yellow-breasted chat, turkey vulture and wild turkey.

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The fescue grassland ecosystem, is found at the highest elevations of the Cypress Hills. The dominant species is rough fescue, a native perennial bunchgrass, along with Idaho fescue, wild and Parry's oatgrass and awned wheatgrass. Besides the grasses are abundant natural wildflowers, including the beautiful yellow flowers of the shrubby cinquefoil, the purple prairie crocus, pink mountain shooting star and yellow gallardia.

This ecosystem is home to few mammals, but birds like the savannah sparrow, western meadowlark and mountain bluebird, the latter of which is making a comeback in the area, are found here.

On the eastern part of the plateau and on the dry, south-facing slopes and adjacent plains is the mixed grass prairie ecosystem. . The most common grasses here are wheatgrass, speargrass, blue grama grass and various dryland sedges. Ground juniper and creeping juniper are also common as well as legumes like early yellow locoweed, purple prairie clover and golden bean.

Animal seekers can spot the Richardson ground squirrel and the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, as well as the northern pocket gopher. The white-tailed jackrabbit, the red fox and the coyote also prefer the open grassland. Birds found here include the red-tail and Swainson's hawk, the horned lark, McCown's longspur, lark bunting and the sage grouse. Lucky birdwatchers might also spot the occasional burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, and bald or golden eagle.

The last ecosystem is the wetland, which consists of luscious plants growing in or near creeks, lakes, ponds and spring-fed marshes. Aquatic plants such as the slender naiad and yellow water crowfoot grow here, as well as plants that root in the mud around the water like cattail rushes, march reed grass and tall manna grass. Trees such as willows, balsam, poplar, river birch, swamp birch and some white spruce are also found here. Numerous orchid species and the early flowering spring beauty - a montane plant that flowers with the first snow melt in the spring - colour the moist area.

The wetland is home to many fur-bearing mammals such as mink, muskrat, and several varieties of weasels that live along the water. Moose, introduced to the area in 1956, can be found in many wetland areas, along with beavers.

The area is also a haven to many birds. Trumpeter swans - once believed to be near extinct - have been sighted in the area, while tundra swans, snow geese and Canada geese are often seen migrating south in the fall. Other bird species that frequent the area include mallards, blue and green-winged teals, American widgeons, kingfishers and great blue herons.

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