Pronghorn Buck

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Like many animals in the west that depends on vast grasslands, the Pronghorn suffers from the same issues affecting other sectors of wildlife. Habitat loss, fragmentation, habitat degradation and man made barriers affect the pronghorns life. Vast connected grasslands supporting sagebrush and allowing for migration routes is necessary to their success. Unlike deer, pronghorns cannot just very high. Fences separating land or ranches obstructs their movements. Grasslands being converted for agriculture or diseases affecting sagebrush mean that pronghorn do not have their desired foliage and cover from predators.

Today work is being done to modify fences or even eliminate fences to allow pronghorn to access their favored migration routes. Land is being protected to allow native grasses and foliage to be available for cover and feed. Highway animal crossings are being installed to help prevent animals from being struck. Pronghorn are even being reintroduced in areas that they had long been removed from.

The pronghorn I was fortunate to capture in this image was near the western entrance to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. He was grazing amongst the prairie dogs while bison were also moving about. A great picture of what land conservation can do for multiple species of wild animals.

By bringing this print into your home, you aren't just owning a moment of nature's resilience, you are actively protecting it, with 5% of your purchase going directly to the National Wildlife Federation.