Wild Pronghorn Migration and Welfare

Pronghorn undertake the second longest land migration in the western hemisphere. Fencing, roads, and development threaten this remarkable journey and individual animal welfare.

Key Facts

Pronghorn are the fastest land animal in the Americas, capable of sustained speeds of 88 km/h.
The Path of the Pronghorn in Wyoming — 240 kilometres — is one of the longest remaining intact terrestrial migrations in North America.
Pronghorn cannot jump over fences as deer can; they go under or around, making fencing a critical migration barrier.
Bottleneck points in migration corridors — where terrain funnels animals into narrow passages — are welfare hotspots where predation and stress concentrate.
Wildlife-friendly fencing (raised bottom rail) allows pronghorn passage while still excluding livestock.
Climate change is altering vegetation phenology along migration routes, potentially decoupling migration timing from food availability.

Welfare Considerations

Pronghorn migration welfare is shaped by corridor integrity. When fences block movement, animals pile up at bottlenecks, experience elevated predation stress, and may be unable to reach their seasonal ranges — causing starvation in drought years. Individual pronghorn at corridor pinch-points show elevated stress hormones and abnormal movement patterns as they repeatedly probe fence lines for gaps. Wildlife-friendly fencing retrofits — a low-cost intervention — dramatically reduce these welfare impacts by allowing free passage. Road crossings are another welfare risk: pronghorn hesitate to cross highways and can be struck by vehicles during the brief moments they attempt to pass. Underpasses and wildlife crossing structures significantly reduce crossing mortality.

What You Can Do

Support Wyoming Wildlife Federation and similar organisations working on pronghorn corridor protection.
Advocate for wildlife-friendly fencing requirements on public land grazing permits in pronghorn range.
Donate to wildlife crossing construction projects on roads intersecting migration corridors.
Support land conservation efforts protecting critical bottleneck habitat in pronghorn migration paths.