Wild Pronghorn Welfare and Fencing Solutions

How innovative fencing solutions are restoring pronghorn migration while maintaining livestock management.

Key Facts

Wildlife-friendly fence designs including raised bottom wires allow pronghorn to slide under while blocking livestock
Buck-and-rail wooden fence sections allow pronghorn crossing at established migration routes
Landowner assistance programs fund fence modification through government and NGO funding in Wyoming and other states
Fencing modification programs have documented increased pronghorn crossing at modified sites
The Path of the Pronghorn — a 300-mile migration route — is protected under multiple land management agreements

Welfare Considerations

Pronghorn fencing welfare solutions represent a practical example of how targeted infrastructure modifications can dramatically improve wildlife welfare outcomes at relatively low cost. Raising fence bottom wires from the ground to 18 inches allows pronghorn to slide under in the behavioral pattern they evolved for, while barbed wire at height continues to contain livestock. These modifications have been documented to significantly increase pronghorn crossing rates at previously blocked points. The funding mechanisms — including government programs and NGO assistance — reduce the financial burden on individual landowners who would otherwise have no incentive to modify effective livestock fencing. This collaboration between ranchers and conservationists achieves welfare outcomes for both wild and domestic animals.

What You Can Do

Support Wyoming Wildlife Federation and similar organizations funding fence modification programs
If you manage rural property in pronghorn range, participate in fence modification assistance programs
Learn about pronghorn crossing behavior and share practical fence solution information with ranching community contacts
Donate to organizations mapping pronghorn migration routes and prioritizing fence modification sites