Pronghorn Movement and Enhancement (Fence Trials)

The proliferation of fencing that followed cattle ranching since the 1880s throughout the Canadian prairies poses a serious barrier to ungulate movement. We have documented that pronghorn and deer show a propensity to cross under fences. For deer, this propensity to cross under may be an artifact of the top wire height being too high to allow passage over. Our results indicated that deer, even though we lowered the top wire, still displayed a propensity to cross under the bottom wire. In addition, we demonstrated that fences, roads, and fenced roads all influence the crossing success and spatial distribution of pronghorn. Lastly, we demonstrated that both road and fence density negatively impacted pronghorn survival. We published four papers in peer-reviewed journals and had a book chapter on pronghorn accepted for publication by Springer. We will disseminate our results and conclusions to stakeholders, wildlife managers, and conservation groups.

Partnerships

Alberta Fish & Game Association, Bushnell Corporation, Cabela’s Canada, Canadian Forces Base Suffield, Government of Alberta, National Wildlife Federation, Safari Club International – Northern Alberta Chapter, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, The Nature Conservancy

Annual Summaries

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