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Pringhorn Antelope Quiz

Sunday, September 16, 2001
Hunting
This article was Archived on Monday, July 01, 2002

How fast are Pronghorn’s capable of running?

  • Sources differ, but pronghorns have been clocked from 60 to 70 mph for up to three or four minutes, and at 30 mph for up to five miles before slowing. What is unique about the pronghorn antelope’s horns?
  • These antelope have horns rather than antlers and their horns are unique because they are shed and re-grow each year. The horn has a permanent bony core covered by a fibrous, hair-like keratinous sheath. What makes the pronghorn capable of such speed?
  • This species has a unique capability of taking in and using oxygen. They consume three times the oxygen of similarly sized animals with extra large windpipes, huge lungs and a large heart. What is the history of the pronghorn antelope?
  • The pronghorn is an ancient species dating back nearly 20 million years. They are the only survivors of a group of hoofed mammals that originated in North America and are considered to be one of the few living links with the Ice Age. Native Americans hunted pronghorns 30,000 years ago. What creatures share the pronghorn antelope’s family tree?
  • No other creatures in the world are related to the pronghorn. What do pronghorns graze on?
  • Pronghorns can graze on almost any plant, even thorny cactus and noxious weeds. They prefer broad-leafed plants or forbs, sagebrush and shrubs. If necessary, they can survive bitter cold or desert heat and go without water for days. What is the one puzzling shortcoming of these hardy survivors?
  • Antelope seem to prefer to go under, not over fences. Low wire or woven wire fences can stop antelope in their tracks or they will run along them. In fact, the antelope’s reluctance to jump has led many to believe they can’t jump, a perception that really gets wildlife biologists going. Here’s what a couple of FWP wildlife observers say on the topic. "I hear tell that antelope in Texas or somewhere in the south routinely jump fences," said Joel Peterson FWP wildlife manager in the Bozeman office. "I don’t know if that’s a fact, but that’s what I’ve heard. I have also observed antelope jump fences in Montana." Peterson says while he’s seen antelope in Montana jump, they usually don’t. He wonders if learned behavior plays a part. "All I know is, they are certainly capable of it," he said. Thomas Litchfield, FWP’s wildlife biologist in White Sulphur Springs says, "It seems to be more psychological than physical...they simply didn’t evolve having to jump." "Though they can jump, they usually don’t in FWP Region 4," Litchfield said. "It’s not a question of state boundaries, but of how many fences are in the area, for how long and what type of fences the pronghorn have been exposed to." A few fences on a range may not be enough exposure to fences to get them to jump." Litchfield believes that pronghorns that learn they can jump should have a survival advantage over those that won’t. And, in time, there may be more "jumpers" in the population. He went on to tell the story of a very tired pronghorn buck in the White Sulphur Springs area that he was chasing on foot. The antelope had a large ball of baling twine caught on one horn along with about 20 feet of barbed wire trailing from it. This antelope cleared a 48-inch barbed wire fence from a standstill. "Fortunately for the antelope, he jumped into an uncut alfalfa field where the trailing barbed wire provided enough "drag" that I and a companion could catch him and get the horn freed from the debris." It might just take the antelope time. After all, Montana’s prairies have been fenced over the course of only the past 100 to 150 years, while these creatures have been evolving over millions of years. So what’s the final word? Have you seen Montana antelope jump or not? Let us know. Email your comments to dtipton@state.mt.us or mail them to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Conservation Education, Attn: Antelope Question, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

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