How pronghorn antelope migration is disrupted by fencing and development, and what conservation approaches protect their welfare.
Pronghorn migration welfare is determined largely by fence infrastructure across their migration corridors. Unlike most ungulates, pronghorn will not jump fences and instead attempt to crawl under, leading to injury and death when bottom wire clearance is insufficient. Wildlife-friendly fence modifications — raising the lowest wire to 18 inches and using smooth wire on the bottom two strands — are low-cost, high-impact welfare interventions. Conservation programs that identify and modify fence bottlenecks in key migration corridors have demonstrated significant improvements in passage success and associated welfare outcomes.