Wyoming Pronghorns

New research shows how rapid development in Wyoming's natural gas fields affects the migrations and survival of pronghorn antelopes.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• animals
• antelopes
• pronghorn
• oil
• natural
• gas
• environment
• west
• research

[assignearth]

You know a great deal about pronghorns! Thanks for watching, and thanks for posting!

[tribbsandal]

@kloudd - Yah, they may be "stupid" in regard to dealing with man-made obstacles. However, they are a very alert prey species, the second fastest land mammals on earth, and avoid densely forested and vegetated areas that obscure their vision. They instinctually stick to reliable migration routes between winter and summer feeding grounds, but avoid perceived threats and have difficulty jumping over livestock fences.

[tribbsandal]

No antelope species are native to the Americas. True antelope have horns which are unbranched and never shed, while Pronghorns have branching horns that are shed annually. Pronghorn are the only members of the family antilocapridae and are the only extant species in the family. They are endemic to North America, and are not in the same family as old world antelopes.

[marceads]

Exactly, that is not a migration. That is simply establishing a range...big difference. Migrations take place to reach either feeding, breeding, or overwintering habitat. Antelope do none of these three. Where are your degrees from?

[Onomon]

Pronghorns DO migrate: it is a 100+ mile journey at 30 or more miles a day. Fewer populations are currently capable of following their old routes, however. Once a path has been pinched off, they typically won't risk the danger of forging a new one. So they'll mull around as best they can with the resources they have. I guess that makes it easier for you: pick a population whose migration route has been pinched -- these ones aren't migrating, therefore pronghorns must not ever migrate. Tada.

[Onomon]

No, I live in Utah. I'm seven miles away from the nearest pronghorn range. I see them several times a month.

[marceads]

That is not a migration. They may move, but they do not migrate. Do you live in Wyoming? I use to govern environmental issues for the Uranium and Oil industries in Wyoming as well as being a professional guide. They may move from one area to the next, but they do not migrate like caribou.

[Onomon]

They don't migrate? Are you out of your mind? The pronghorn migration route is second in length only to caribou for North America. During the winter, they live off food they dig up from the snow, but if the snow is too deep, they have to move. They're only three feet tall, for heaven's sake!

[marceads]

Dont get too caught up in this...this is a lie because antelope do not migrate. In all honesty, the gas and oil industry helps populations due to better feed when reclaimation takes place. Do not buy into this study.