14A • <strong>August</strong> <strong>2011</strong> • <strong>Moab</strong> <strong>Happenings</strong>Home on the RangeThey have their own song, “Where the deer and theantelope play,” but those words first written in 1876 were abit misleading. “Where the deer and the pronghorn play,”doesn’t have the same ring, but is biologically more correct.The American pronghorn, swiftestNorth American land mammal, is thelone member of the Antilocarpidae familyof even-toed hoofed mammals. Placedin the genus Antilocarpa, which means“antelope-goat,” these desert dwellers aredistinct from their African relatives.Prior to westward settlement, anestimated 30-60 million pronghornroamed across the vast interior of NorthAmerica. Hunting and habitat conversionreduced that number to around 20,000 by the early 1920s.In addition, barbed wire may have tamed the West, but itwas detrimental to the non-fence jumping pronghorn.Unlike deer and elk which shed antlers, pronghornhorns are a bony core surrounded by a sheath of specializedskin and fused hairs. These sheaths are shed annually inearly winter and replaced by mid-summer. On the bucksthese horns may reach 10-20 inches long and have a smallnotch or prong, which gives them their common name, thatpoints forward. The rest of the black horn curves backwardsand slightly inwards. Females also have horns, but these aremuch smaller.Creatures of the American savannah – open grasslandsand shrublands – the pronghorn relies on keen eyesightand speed to elude predators. Their large eyes are set inNATURE HAPPENINGSbony rings that provide them a greatfield of vision. When threatened,a pronghorn erects the white hairson its rump effectively doublingthis patch in size. This white flagdoes not indicate surrender, butis a visual alarm sign to otherpronghorn. And for those otherpronghorn not paying attention, thesentry may release an odor fromtheir rump glands that gets the herd’s attention.Starting in late summer and early fall, male pronghornsdefend breeding territories and gather harems. Polygynousby nature, male pronghornsmay breed with up to 20does. Chasing, joustingand other displays betweenmales occur during this time.Males may also be observed“battling” bushes, but thisbehavior places scent markson vegetation to help definethese boundaries.With a one-monthdelayed period betweenbreeding and implanting ofthe eggs in the uterus, thedoes have a seven to eightmonth gestation period. Fawns born in spring can outrun acoyote within a few weeks.The Cisco Desert along Interstate 70, the west side ofState Highway 191 from the Interstate south towards theCanyonlands Airport, and the Hatch Point area down bythe Wind Whistle Campground have extensive areas ofgrasslands and shrublands that support pronghorn. Useyour vehicle like a viewing blind rather than stepping out ofthe vehicle for a closer look at these magnificent animals.Besides coyotes and bobcats preying on young pronghorns,the next major predator is humans, and a pronghorn willquickly put distance between themselves and a hiker. Andthough pronghorn are active throughout the day, even in the<strong>August</strong> heat, early morning and evening are the best hoursto search for pronghorns “at play.”www.moabhappenings.comGrand Junction Regional Airport has over 19 daily nonstop500 one-stop connections to cities around the world.TO FIND THE BEST AVAILABLE FARE OR TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT,VISIT WWW.GJAIRPORT.COM.gjairport.com 970-244-9100
www.moabhappenings.com<strong>Moab</strong> <strong>Happenings</strong> • <strong>August</strong> <strong>2011</strong> • 15ANMOAB, UTAHDowntown<strong>Moab</strong>MOAB, UTAHAVERAGE TEMPERATURE & RAINFALLMONTH HIGH/LOW RAINFALLJANUARY 49.6/18.0 0.53FEBRUARY 50.4/25.5 0.62MARCH 60.2/34.2 0.71APRIL 72.5/41.9 0.79MAY 82.4/50.1 0.57JUNE 92.0/57.5 0.45JULY 99.0/64.1 0.49AUGUST 95.3/62.8 0.87SEPTEMBER 87.1/52.8 0.83OCTOBER 73.8/40.8 1.16NOVEMBER 56.0/30.6 0.60DECEMBER 45.1/21.4 0.64Map produced byCanyonlands Advertising.All contents are protectedby Copyright <strong>2011</strong>.No reproduction orother use withoutwritten permission fromCanyonlands Advertising,P.O. Box 698,<strong>Moab</strong>, Utah 84532Licensed - Insured - 10 Years ExperienceUse Environment Friendly SuppliesCall for Bid or Free EstimatesFor Business Fleets, organizations & PrivateCars - Trucks - ATVs - MotorhomesHOT/COLD POWER WASHING:Fences - Homes - Parking AreasTo MonticelloCortez, Durango,Monument Valley,Phoenix
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