Reduced recruitment and declining populations of pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) in Alberta prompted this study of bed-site selection by neonates. Characteristics of bedding sites of freeranging fawns were studied on a 9,300-km2 study area within the grassland range of southeastern Alberta. During 1971-76, 465 bedded fawns, estimated mean age 2.8 days, were located and captured. Fawns commonly bedded on slopes, in native vegetation, in small depressions, on patches of bare gound, or adjacent to clumps of silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana), rock, or cow dung. Many appeared to select sites that had characteristics that served as suitable vertical and horizontal sign stimuli, and thus stimulated bedding selection behavior. Sagebrush was sparse on the study area, and 75% of the fawns bedded on grassland ranges that had little or no brush cover. Wind velocity at fawn bedding sites was 59.5% less than readings taken 150 cm above the beds. No evidence of traditional fawning areas was found. The number of marked fawns relocated was used as an index of fawn survival. Estimated survival was higher for animals bedded in native range, and increased with greater cover density and use of depressions; significantly fewer fawns were relocated if they had been initially found bedded on cultivated land. Habitat diversity provided by silver sagebrush, small depressions, and stands of grasses or forbs >25 cm tall constituted important bedding cover, and contributed to above-average survival of fawns on the study area. Managers should recognize the value of these features when making land use decisions for this kind of rangeland. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 45(1):120-131 Annual systematic surveys for pronghorns in Alberta indicated that in 1969 the population had declined to a 15-year low of 7,000 animals (Wishart 1970:128). Reduced recruitment of young was noted at that time, although Mitchell (1965) had shown that the birth rate of pronghorns in Alberta was high. These factors led to a study in 1971 of the biology of pronghorn fawns. The occurrence and significance of low fawn recruitment in North America were reviewed by Vriend and Barrett (1978). In recent years, predation has been shown to be a locally important mortality factor for fawns in several areas (Beale and Smith 1973, Barrett 1978, Beale 1978, Bodie 1978, Von Gunten 1978). The characteristics of bedding sites of neonates may be related to fawn survival, although little relevant information is available. In the 1st 3 weeks of life, fawns spend approximately 90% of their time bedded. Autenrieth and Fichter (1975:38-46) described the behavior of pronghorn fawns that were selecting bedding sites. Some characteristics of fawn bedding sites, particularly as they related to sagebrush-dominated rangelands, have been reported for pronghorns in Montana (Pyrah 1974) and Idaho (Autenrieth 1976). Bromley (1977:79-97) presented data on bedding-site selection by fawns in a small population of pronghorns in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. Studies conducted to date have shown important differences in vegetative types selected as bedding sites by pronghorn fawns. Characteristics of fawn bedding sites in grassland communities typical of most of the pronghorn range in Alberta 1 Present address: Alberta Environmental Centre, Bag 4000, Vegreville, Alberta TOB 4L0, Canada. 120 J. Wildl. Manage. 45(1):1981 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.150 on Thu, 28 Jul 2016 04:13:39 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms PRONGHORN FAWN BEDDING SITES * Barrett 121 have not been reported. Yoakum (1972:176) estimated that the proportion of pronghorns in North America living in grassland communities was 68%, as opposed to 31% living in grassland-brushland communities. The purposes of my study were to describe bedding sites of pronghorn fawns throughout a predominantly grassland range in southeastern Alberta, and to determine whether fawn survival was related to the characteristics of these bed