Learning about antelope

JEROME - Looking through a set of binoculars, University of Idaho masters student Tim Smyser, watches the antelope stand up in the sagebrush surrounding their beds in the Three Creek area south of Twin Falls. After stretching and looking around, the animals move off to feed. Tim, armed with a two-way radio and Zip Lock bags, moves off to the bedding area. This is the second year Tim has studied the antelope, as he tries to understand the determining factors that control their population growth. The three factors he is examining include habitat and the nutritional value of feed, predation, and fawning season weather. "They are truly an incredible animal," Smyser said. "From the their 60 mile per hour running speed, the desert conditions they survive in, and their long distance seasonal movement, they are truly unique among animals in the state." After reaching the bedding area by following the directions given to him over the two-way radio from the spotter left at the truck, he picks up samples of antelope droppings. The fecal material collected will be studied at the Washington State University wildlife lab to determine the chemical analysis of and materials the animals are eating. "We have gathered a lot of information from the chemical analysis," Smyser said. "Last year we collected 130 fecal samples from different animals and this year we have collected 225." "Most of the samples are taken from adult animals from fawning to weaning season in different types of habitats," he said. "This helps use understand the types of feed the animals need to produce their young and what type of habitats best provide it." The second part of the study helps them determine the number of coyotes following the does and their new fawns. "Coyote scat transects is also a large part of the study," Smyser said. "We walk many the county roads in both the Camas Prairie area and around Three Creek with antelope nearby and remove all the coyote scat. A week later we go back, follow the same roads and count the number of coyote droppings. We can them compare it to data collected from other studies in determining coyotes densities to help us determine the number of coyotes in the area." The final two steps in the study are aerial counts and following 24 radio-collared antelope that were trapped earlier this spring. "This helps us follow their movement and helps us track growth and decline in the overall population," Smyser said. "When we complete the study this year we will better understand antelope population growth to changes in habitat, their nutrition needs, how predation effects them, and effects of different types of weather during fawning season." Biologists have already learned a lot from the information gathered last year. "The Camas Prairie and the Little Wood area are producing fawns at twice the rate as eastern Owyhee and western Twin Falls counties," Smyse said. "It is mostly a combination of higher fawn survival rate and a higher percentage of the does bearing young." "The chemical analysis of the fecal material show the nutritional differences," he said. "Having forbs in their diets seems to be the biggest difference. We know we have several different populations of antelope in the state, that each have different growth potential, and they need to be managed individually." Antelope Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, range from southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan, Canada through the western United States to Hidalgo, Baja California, and western Sonora, Mexico. The pronghorn is found from sea level over 9,000 feet in elevation in grassland and desert. Pronghorn are the only species within the family Antilocapridae in the world and is unique among animals. Its horns are distinct; they are indeed pronged and consist of a permanent bony core covered by an annually-shed keratinous sheath. The long, woolly undercoat is covered by coarse, brittle hairs. This animal is reddish-brown or tan above and white below. The neck bears a short black mane and two white stripes across its anterior portion. The rump is white. Males have a black mask and black patches on the sides of the neck. Their horns extend past the tips of their ears. Females lack these black markings and often bear horns; these are rarely pronged and are not longer than the ears. Does usually give birth to one young after their first pregnancy and to two young in subsequent pregancies. Gestation lasts 252 days. The weight of the newborn fawn ranges from 5 to 9 pounds. The young have a gray coats unlike that of the adults until they are three months old. At four days the young can outrun a human. At three weeks the fawn consumes some vegetation but still suckles on the solid-rich milk produced by the mother. Antelope can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour, making it the fastest New World mammal. As the pronghorn is fairly widely distributed over several habitat types, its diet depends on local resources. A 1964 study estimated the percentage of the entire species found on various vegetative communities and found, including grass, browes and forbs. The pronghorn is of economic importance for several reasons. It is the second most popular game animal in North America. In addition, its ability to consume noxious weeds makes it important in range management.