On a drive through Wyoming I had the great fortune of watching and photographing Pronghorn in a near by field. Much of the Wyoming landscape is fenced off and mostly with barbed wire fences. This photo is a great example how high a healthy buck can jump easily clearing such a partition. Unfortunately I’ve seen some rather gruesome photos of Pronghorn and other migratory species getting caught on such fences and perishing. Fish and Game departments in various states with in the wildlife corridor have made attempts to provide ranchers with guidelines to minimize such events (Ex. Pronghorn Management Guide – 2006 via Game and Fish Department North Dakota), but they do still occur.
Leaping Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
With out thinking, due to our constant exposure to fences and walls in urban areas, we seldom think twice about such structures in open areas. The next time you take a road trip through the country take notice of how many fences there truly are… it’s astounding.
“Good fences make good neighbors.” – Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall”
Fences, particularly barb wire, certainly do not make us good neighbors or stewards of nature.
[tags]Pronghorn, wildlife, photography, stock photo, fences, barb wire[/tags]