Rearing and Training Pronghorns for Ecological Studies

Abstract

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) fawns were successfully hand-reared and trained for both laboratory and field studies in nutrition. Fawns were captured 1 to 3 days after birth, placed in an outdoor rearing facility, and bottle-fed a formula of 1 part evaporated milk and 4 parts homogenized milk. Dietary disorder and bacterial infection resulting in diarrhea, and bone and joint ailments were major problems encountered in rearing fawns. Seventy-four percent of 32 fawns reared were successfully trained for field and laboratory studies. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 40(3):464-468 Use of tame ungulates to study food habits under controlled conditions has increased in the past decade. As cited by Reichert (1972), investigators have used red deer (Cervus elaphus), caribou (Rangifer tarandus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and mule deer (0. hemionus) for such purposes. Tame pronghorns have been used successfully for both field (Hoover 1971, Schwartz and Nagy 1973) and laboratory (Wesley et al. 1969, 1970, 1973) studies of nutrition, and in field studies of behavior (Ellis and Travis 1975). This report describes techniques used in rearing and training 35 pronghorn fawns captured in the wild. We acknowledge K. Miller for assistance with care and training of pronghorns, R. Souther for maintenance of animals, and D. Wesley and J. Hoover for suggestions throughout the study. J. Ellis, L. Menges, and 0. C. Wallmo reviewed the manuscript.