Follow-up on the "Antelope"

These are the pictures I pulled off the website- does it not look exactly like the one we had in our yard (scroll down and then back up really fast- I couldn't get this to upload the one I took for some reason)

Okay, so I really googled that animal we were seeing around our neighborhood (and we've seen a lot of them, not just that one, but that was just the first time I got a picture- I forgot to mention that :)). It was interesting because we found out they aren't really antelopes! (Here's a little biology lesson for ya)

Entirely unique on this planet, the Pronghorn's scientific name, Antilocapra americana, means "American antelope goat." (which is funny because the first time Nate and I saw them we kinda thought they looked like Goats) But the deer-like Pronghorn is neither antelope nor goat -- It is the sole surviving member of the ancient family Antilocapridae (order Artiodactyla) dating back 20 million years. (how cool is that!!) It is also called the Prongbuck, Pronghorned Antelope and American Antelope (so I guess we can keep calling it an Antelope, just to fit in with the locals though :)). It is not related to the Old World antelopes. The Pronghorn weighs between 90 and 125 pounds, and stands about 3 1/2 feet at the shoulder. It has large, protruding eyes and a white or buff, 4-inch tail.

The Pronghorn is the only animal in the world with branched horns (not antlers) and the only animal in the world to shed its horns, as if they were antlers. (kinda makes ya wonder why they don't call them antlers don'tcha think? apparently they are the same formation as a horn though- that's why)

The Pronghorn is the fastest animal in the western hemisphere, running in 20-foot bounds at up to 60 miles per hour. Unlike the Cheetah, the Pronghorn can run for hours at quite a fast pace.

The Pronghorn inhabits open plains and semi-deserts, living alone or in small bands in summer and forming large herds in winter. Being highly mobile, the Pronghorn may cover a large area during the year. Pronghorn can survive a temperature range of 180 degrees, from 130 in the deserts to 50 below zero (brrrr).

They are active night and day, combining alternate snatches of sleep with vigilant feeding (sounds like Noah :). Pronghorn are selective, opportunistic foragers. They feed on forbs, shrubs, grasses, juniper, chamiso and sometimes cacti and domestic crops. In winter, desert populations are said to favor Sagebrush.

Pronghorn have amazing eyesight. They can detect movement up to 4 miles away. When alerted to danger, they contract their rump muscles causing their white rump hairs to stand on end, which other Pronghorn may detect from 2 miles away (seems like such a strange "defense" to me- I'm surprised that works!). At the same time, they exude a musky odor, which can be detected for more than a mile (gross).


They usually produce twins (Charity maybe you could become a Pronghorn :)), and their gestation period is about 250 days (I don't know why it's always important to me to learn the gestational periods of animals :) makes me glad I'm not an elephant).

It is estimated that in the mid-1800s, Pronghorn numbered in the many million, second only to the American Bison. By the 1920s, the U.S. population had been reduced to about 20,000. Since then, efforts to preserve the Pronghorn have helped revitalize the general population. Pronghorn are still a highly prized game animal, and limited hunting is permitted in some prairie states. Then it went on to say that there are 5 species and where those 5 species are located, but never mentions Utah or Eagle Mountain. Funny but it said that "Pronghorns can be seen (with a pair of good binoculars) in a number desert locations" then named a few Wildlife Refuges. Kinda cracks me up that people are out there buying "a pair of good binoculars" to see them when all they need to do is come sit in our backyard and have to move out of their way!

(side note, I just heard my daughter tell my son "when a woman falls over a man has to come running over to help her up" how awesome is that!! I'm so happy she is teaching him that :) I think they're playing house :))

So anyway :) (if you actually read this far- then well done- you learned your something new for today!- glad I could be of some service :)) I thought it was pretty darn cool that we have such an unique animal right here in our backyard. Kinda puts those Alaskan Meese to shame doesn't it! (not really, I'm just trying to make myself feel better- nothing beats having a massive moose in your backyard! :))