Guest akaspecials Report post Posted January 25, 2019 What affect would a border wall have on the Sonoran Antelope? Any biologist out there? I had someone pose to me that the herds are distinct and it wont hurt the 200 or so that are there, but it would impede thier expansion into historical ranges. He was more concerned about roads, canals, and barbed wire that already cut up the habitat. Valid reasoning? Invalid reasoning? The last part I know is a huge issue. Please start another thread to talk politics. I'd prefer to keep this to biology/science and personal experience with antelope. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThomC Report post Posted January 25, 2019 We are being invaded by really stupid people who will vote for free stuff (the dirty lie that socialists lefties tell them) and they wont care about pronghorns. Not politics, facts. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heat Report post Posted January 25, 2019 I studied these critters for my first job out of college. They are stuck, border fence or not IMO. Highway 2 which parallels the border from Sonoyta to San Luis Rio Colorado is enough to keep them apart. Any other barrier will add to that. You can thank John Hervert with the AZGFD and his staff for saving them from the brink of extinction. He had and idea to create an enclosure, remove all the predators, and water it. They went from 21 animals to hundreds again due to those actions. The other so called "experts" thought he was nuts. The Department and FWS have been moving them around quite a bit and now there are other populations than the one south of the 8 between Gila Bend and Yuma. They are now on the KOFA and YPG as well as the east side of the 85 between Gila Bend and Ajo. Even with these huge strides I don't think they will ever come off the list. PS - Antelope live in Africa and game farms in Texas, these are Pronghorn. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
audsley Report post Posted January 26, 2019 Heat hit the most important point. Highway 2 has been a game-changer since the 1980s and carries a lot of traffic nowadays. Historically it was an unpaved road with cars going much slower than today. Now that highway is an important truck route. Combine that with the fact that pronghorn get very little real protection or tangible support down there and crossing the border just isn't good for them anymore. It wish it wasn't that way, but that's how the biologists tell us it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwoody Report post Posted January 26, 2019 Build the wall...…. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossiranch Report post Posted February 21, 2019 I’m from Ajo and worked with the biologists in the pronghorn pens while I’m high school. Saw this nice buck down there last weekend! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwoody Report post Posted February 21, 2019 Very cool pics, little guys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
