Once again, I delved into the Encyclopedia of Life to bring you an animal for this week. It is the Pronghorn Antelope.
The Pronghorn Antelope in Motion
The pronghorn antelope is the only gazelle-like creature left on North America after the split of Pangea. They live up to 10 years in the wild. They stand around a meter and a half to the shoulder, but males are bigger than females. Their wonderful horns are garnered on both genders, male and female. Their sandy coats make it very difficult to see them in the American Western grasslands. There, they feed easily on grass and other small bushes.
Pronghorns are naturally very curious animals. As a result, they would inspect anything that moved, including predators. Since they are extremely fast, the second fastest land animal after cheetahs, they could escape from most of their predators. But, when humans began to hunt them, they could not outrun bullets. Thus, their own curiosity, nearly caused their extinction. Fortunately, conservation efforts have brought the populations up to a healthy level once more. Now, however, their status is once again threatened because of the destruction of their habitat by increased urban sprawl.
An interesting fact about Pronghorns is that Pronghorn fawns are actually safer living around wolves. Why? Because it seems wolves will kill coyotes, the main predators of Pronghorn fawns. Thus, hunters who kill wolves for killing the Pronghorn are actually perpetuating the problem.
I’m glad you mentioned that about wolves. It’s a good point although it only applies to some parts of the country. Another thing about ‘Lopes is that they have exceptional eyesight. I sometimes think their sight is similar to mine when I’m using a 10X binoculars.
By: montucky on May 29, 2008
at 12:39 am
Thank you for adding to the article. My question is how the wolf fact only applies to certain parts of the country?
By: scienceguy288 on May 29, 2008
at 2:09 pm
So what do the wolves eat (coyotes are not perferred food), moose and elk calves and antelope fawns when available or domestic lambs and cow calves?
By: Bob Aardema on October 7, 2008
at 2:56 pm
Wolves are carnivores but will eat other foods as well. Their diet ranges from big game, such as elk and moose, to earthworms, berries and grasshoppers.
They usually prey on weaker members of a herd, such as old, young or sick animals. In summer, when the herds migrate, wolves eat mice, birds and even fish. They may also eat carrion.
By: scienceguy288 on October 7, 2008
at 3:01 pm
Just got back from hunting the Pronghorn Antelope in Montana……We’ve been hunting Antelope for over 2o years out there……Numbers have been increasing most every year……There is NO increased urban Sprawl out in that country….The Pronghorn will be here for my Grandchildren to see and hunt…
Here in Minnesota the Wolves are about to be taken off the endangered list….There numbers have to be controlled….Too many wolves..KILL…too many things…Everything in this world in moderation, the same goes for wolf populations..
By: Craig on October 30, 2008
at 2:38 am
Wow i never knew that. Thats an interesting fact i never knew. I find that cool and this website is helping me with my school project in science
By: Angela on May 15, 2009
at 2:52 pm