FS & IWS support pronghorn

Though often called antelope colloquially, pronghorn are only found in North America. They once roamed throughout the entire Central Valley of California, but now exist mainly in Northeast California. Their name means antelope goat, Antilocapra americana, but they are neither a true antelope nor a goat.

Pronghorn have amazing eyesight and are the fastest land animals in North America with speeds up to 55 miles per hour for half a mile and then they can sustain 35 miles per hour for up to four miles. Their speed is second only to the cheetah in the world, but they can sustain their speed much longer. Antelope are the last species from a unique family of even-toed hoofed animals called Antilocapridae that died out in the Pliocene time.

The Institute for Wildlife Studies is implementing the Pronghorn Fence Modification project on the Devil’s Garden Plateau. Based on GPS-collar surveys over the past few years, sections of fence have been identified as possible barriers for pronghorn migration. The first step in this fence modification project is to measure the bottom wire on fences in areas where pronghorn migrate. In areas where the wire is lower than 18 inches, it will be raised up to 18 inches using existing fence stays or adding stays and clipping the barbs off the barbed wire every feasible third fence section. In some locations the bottom wire will be replaced with up to ¼ mile of smooth wire. In other places no actions will occur because the bottom wire is 18 inches or higher, the fence is down, the bottom wire is too close to the ground, or the fence material is woven wire such as sheep fence.

Pronghorn may be one of the fastest land animals in North America, but they do not jump like deer or elk, so making sure the lower wire is at least 18 inches from the ground helps the pronghorn move between fawning areas and winter/summer forage areas. Fences with bottom wires lower than 18 inches impede pronghorn movement and may cause serious injury or death in some cases. Barriers such as fences prevent movement through migration routes into snow free areas where their forage is located. During severe winters this may cause die offs. The pronghorn here in Modoc County are still recovering from the severe winter of 1992/1993.

Supporting pronghorn migration between winter and summer forage and fawning grounds is a positive step toward recovery, not only in Northeast California but also in Southern and Central California where they are trying to re-establish pronghorn herds.

The Institute for Wildlife Studies with the support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Caltrans, BLM and the Modoc National Forest have put a lot of time and effort into making this project a success. If you see the Institute for Wildlife Studies crew working on fences, please stop and say hello.

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