Dry land. Thirsty plants. When rain doesn’t come, droughts happen. Whether in the desert, forest or prairies, droughts can happen anywhere. Discover how small shifts in the amount of rainfall can cause big changes to the land. Learn about droughts, what causes them and how living things adapt to survive.Dry land. Thirsty plants. When rain doesn’t come, droughts happen. Whether in the desert, forest or prairies, droughts can happen anywhere. Discover how small shifts in the amount of rainfall can cause big changes to the land. Learn about droughts, what causes them and how living things adapt to survive.