Pronghorn antelope are increasingly affected by drought conditions that reduce forage availability and challenge their remarkable migration ecology.
Pronghorn experiencing drought suffer from nutritional stress as forage availability and quality decline. Malnourished does produce less milk, causing fawn growth impairment and increased mortality. Drought combined with deep snow in consecutive years creates compounded stress that reduces body condition below survival thresholds. Climate change is increasing drought frequency and severity across pronghorn range. The adaptation strategies that allowed pronghorn to survive extreme conditions over evolutionary time are increasingly challenged by the rate of climate change. Conservation interventions like water guzzlers and fence modifications provide targeted welfare support.