Bed-Site Characteristics of Pronghorn Fawns

Abstract

We examined microhabitat factors associated with bedding sites of pronghorn fawns in the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas. We marked 101 fawns during 3 consecutive fawning seasons, April-June 1990-92. We measured and compared 11 microhabitat characteristics of 127 and 489 bed sites from surviving (n = 11) and non-surviving (n = 89) fawns and compared these characteristics to 225 sites we selected randomly. Differences occurred between fawn-selected bed sites and random sites for shrub cover (P = 0.04), shrub density (P = 0.01), grass cover (P = 0.03), nearest concealing cover (NCC; P = 0.0001), rock cover (P = 0.008), and bed slope (P = 0.0001). Shrub cover, shrub density, and grass cover at bed sites of surviving fawns were more similar to that found at random sites than to bed sites of non-surviving fawns. Bed sites of survivors and non-survivors differed in rock cover (P = 0.03), slope (P = 0.008), and bed slope (P = 0.001) characteristics. Fawn age class appeared to influence preference for particular microhabitat characteristics; shrub density was greater (P = 0.027) and grass cover less (P = 0.0001) in young-age fawn bed sites. Environmental features that provided adequate concealment, but that also provided increased long-range visibility of the area surrounding the bed site, appeared to be favored for bedding. Overall, important microhabitat variables were shrub cover, shrub density, grass cover, NCC, and bed slope, and to a lesser extent rock cover, terrain slope, overstory height, and understory height. Management that encourages increased grass and forb production will provide necessary hiding cover for fawns.