Since mammals need salt in their diets to survive, the Salt Plains understandably became a gathering place for a variety of wildlife. For Native peoples and early settlers, this made the region an ideal hunting ground. Large herds of bison, deer, and elk migrated through the area and often stopped at the Salt Plains to lick the salt. Migratory birds also gathered there to find safe harbor from predators.

Prior to refrigeration, salt was also an essential tool for meat preservation. This made the Salt Plains a vital resource for animals and humans alike.