Pronghorn Migration: Conservation for North America's Fastest Mammal

Pronghorn antelopes undertake one of North America's longest land migrations, facing growing threats from fencing, roads, and drought.

Key Facts

Pronghorn are the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere, reaching 55 mph
They undertake migrations of up to 300 miles between seasonal ranges
Unlike deer, pronghorn cannot jump - they must crawl under or go around fences
Fence modifications with smooth bottom wires can restore historical migration routes
Climate change is increasing drought frequency in key pronghorn habitats
Pronghorn populations declined from 35 million to around 500,000 by 1920

Welfare Considerations

Pronghorn migration welfare is affected by both acute stressors - fences, roads, predators - and chronic pressures from habitat loss and climate change. Fences that prevent migration cause nutritional stress as animals cannot access seasonal forage. Road crossings create injury and mortality risk. Drought reduces both food availability and water access. Conservation interventions that restore migration corridors - fence modifications, wildlife underpasses, water sources - directly improve individual pronghorn welfare at landscape scale.

What You Can Do

Support fence modification programs that add smooth bottom wires to allow pronghorn passage
Advocate for wildlife crossing infrastructure on roads bisecting pronghorn migration routes
Donate to organizations mapping and protecting pronghorn migration corridors
Support federal and state land management policies that maintain open habitat connectivity
Reduce consumption of products linked to habitat conversion in pronghorn range
Learn about pronghorn ecology and share conservation information in your community