Pronghorn undertake one of North America's longest land migrations but face barrier effects from fencing that causes mortality, welfare stress, and population fragmentation.
Pronghorn caught against impassable fences experience acute stress - attempting repeatedly to pass, becoming exhausted, and potentially dying from heat or cold exposure if migration is blocked at critical times. Fence entanglement injuries cause additional welfare harm. The chronic stress of navigating a landscape fragmented by barriers reduces foraging efficiency and reproductive success. Wildlife-friendly fencing modifications - bottom wire raises, temporary fence sections removed during migration, and smooth wire substitution - are low-cost interventions with substantial welfare and conservation returns.