200 Antelope Transplanted to Three Regions in Idaho

One of the West's biggest antelope capture and relocation operations has brought 200 Utah pronghorns to Idaho. Idaho Fish and Game biologists and conservation officers joined wildlife professionals from Utah, Nevada and Arizona took part in the massive relocation effort. During the two-day capture operation more than 500 antelope were captured, tranquilized, ear tagged and loaded into transport trucks and trailers for relocation. Two hundred of the captured antelope were transported overnight to Idaho for releases Boise, Pocatello and Idaho Falls areas earlier this month. At a remote location west of Pocatello in the Big Desert, 50 antelope were released. Veterinarian Mark Drew treated one fawn antelope for shock and neck injuries. It was euthanized after it did not respond to treatment. The rest of the antelope trotted off into the desert. "We hope this gives our local antelope population a boost," Corey Class, biologist for the Southeast Region, said. "Capture and transportation went exceedingly well. When we opened the transport gates to release the antelope they were bedded down in the hay we spread on the floor. We had to herd some of them out of the trailer." At the Birch Creek release site north of Idaho Falls, 93 animals were released unharmed. One died in transit. "It was awesome," regional wildlife manager Daryl Meints said. "Only one lost, I am thrilled. It is a big success. We have 10 radio collared so we can follow them through the winter." According to Southwest Region wildlife manager Jon Rachael, the release went far better than anticipated. The region received 51 with only one loss. "The success of this operation depended on the organization, preparation and hard work of all the Idaho Fish and Game employees involved in the antelope operation," wildlife veterinarian Mark Drew said. "It was impressive from start to finish. Capturing, processing and transporting 200 wild animals of any kind in one day are an immense undertaking." Nevada Department of Wildlife received 100 antelope, Arizona Game and Fish transported 40 antelope home and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources relocated 160. Nile Sorenson, Regional Wildlife Program Manager for Utah Division of Wildlife Resources contacted adjoining western states to find out if they were interested in receiving antelope. "Our aerial surveys counted 2,200 antelope with an estimated herd of 3,000 in the area," said Sorenson. "We figured we could capture 500." "This was a rare opportunity," Idaho state big game manager Brad Compton said. "We have areas in the state where the antelope populations are relatively low. While transplanting the antelope will not magically increase these populations, we wanted to take full advantage of this one-time opportunity." "We set up the trap and got everything ready," Sorenson said. "I told them to come prepared to process and transport the number of antelope they wanted." According to Sorenson, the antelope trap is located along the exact route Native Americans once hunted. The rocks they set up to funnel antelope to waiting hunters are still in place today. Wildlife managers have trapped more than 5,000 antelope at this location since the mid 1970s for transplanting to other areas. Wildlife managers try to relocate surplus wildlife from antelope and sharptail grouse to river otters and elk when conditions are right. Relocation is especially important to states establishing new populations or bolstering existing ones. States receiving wildlife are expected to reciprocate in the future. Wildlife professionals from four states gathered at the Parker Mountain antelope trap in a foot of snow and bitter cold at 8,200 feet elevation. The snow and cold congregated antelope herds, making it possible for crews to capture a large number. Sorenson gave a safety briefing, the helicopter started herding antelope and non-stop action began. Using a Long Ranger helicopter, antelope were herded into corral traps with quarter mile long V-shaped wings. Men on foot chased the antelope the last 100 yards into the covered holding corral area of the trap. Bounding antelope were then caught by hand, wrestled to the ground, tranquilized and hand carried to field-processing stations next to the trap. Biologists from four states worked at a frenetic pace once antelope were delivered to the processing area. Mark Drew worked with 23 Fish and Game employees from three Idaho regions involved and the Idaho Wildlife Health Laboratory. Kits including tranquilizer doses, ear tags, blood and DNA sampling kits were prepared for the 200 antelope coming to Idaho. Four field-processing sites were organized where workers attached radio collars, applied ear tags, gave injections of tranquilizing drugs and collected samples for disease testing using the kits. Thirty antelope were radio collared with 10 going to each of the three release sites for tracking. The two day capture was successful providing 500 antelope for transplanting and relocation. Special precautions were taken to limit injuries and mortalities for the traveling antelope. Biologists had concerns that loss of antelope from trap site to release could be high and took extra precautions to insure their safety. Editors: jpgs of capture are available on request to Ed Mitchell, emitchell@idfg.state.id.us.