A landmark study has been launched that may help ensure the migratory success and survival of North America’s fastest land animal—the pronghorn—in Grand Teton National Park and the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The new study, to be conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Grand Teton National Park, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, will evaluate dynamics of this population as well as threats that may be faced by pronghorn as they travel the path to and from summering areas in Grand Teton National Park and wintering areas in the Upper Green River Valley in Wyoming.
“Grand Teton National Park’s pronghorn spend half the year outside the boundaries of the national park, and the threats they encounter could influence their long-term viability,” said Grand Teton National Park Senior Wildlife Biologist Steve Cain. “The data collected in this study will provide public and private land managers with information critical for making decisions that enhance conservation of this herd, outside of the park as well as inside.”
The study builds upon earlier research that documented in detail an 80-90 mile (125-150 km) corridor—coined the “Path of the Pronghorn”—along which pronghorn complete the longest overland migration in the continental United States.
The study will also examine the possible effects of recent re-colonisation of southern Grand Teton by wolves as it relates to pronghorn fawn mortality and overall population dynamics. Coyotes have long preyed on pronghorn fawns in the park and are suspected of having an adverse impact on fawn survival. Due to the relationship between wolves and coyotes, and the establishment of wolves within the study area, the situation may demonstrate a favorable opportunity for pronghorn population numbers. The current status of the coyote densities and fawn survival rates are largely unknown.
Researchers will focus on the southern end of the pronghorn migratory route—and their critical winter range—which occurs on a combination of private and federal lands (Bureau of Land Management). These lands contain one of the largest oil and natural gas reserves in the United States currently under development. Previous studies have shown that gas field development, migration barriers such as fences, and other human activities and structures occurring on these lands can impact pronghorn behavior and population health.
Work on the study has already begun. Recently, scientists captured 30 pronghorn in Grand Teton and the adjacent Gros Ventre River drainage and fitted them with GPS-equipped collars. The collars will provide scientists with up to three years of data on pronghorn movement and migration patterns and other key indicators such as survival rates.
“Globally, most national parks are not large enough to protect ecological phenomena such as migration. Demonstrating the ability to maintain this process in the Greater Yellowstone system and in Grand Teton National Park can be a model for other species and parks in similar situations across the planet,” said WCS Scientist Jon Beckmann.
Pronghorn, which are found only in North America, once numbered an estimated 35 million in the early 19th century. About 700,000 remain today and more than half of those live in Wyoming.
