The researchers studied ancient soils and animal traces in western Kansas to learn about the environment and climate during the late Miocene period. They found evidence of a savanna with some trees and patches of bare soil. The climate was mild, with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 20°C and rainfall between 250 mm and 460 mm annually. The animals living there included ants, beetles, reptiles, and mammals. This information helps us understand how the Great Plains of North America changed during this time.