In 1999 approximately 100 pronghorn antelope, Antilocapra americana , were trapped on Parker Mountain near Loa, UT. These animals were trapped by using a helicopter to locate and herd the animals into a large holding pen. At the holding pen five of the pronghorn were fitted with radio transmitters while all of the animals received a colored ear tag. Of the 100 pronghorn taken to Kane County for release, approximately 25 were released onto State of Utah lands with the remainder being released on the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
In 2000 approximately 60 more animals were taken from Parker Mountain and again released on State and Monument administered lands in Kane County. This pronghorn reintroduction effort was a cooperative effort between the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Monument.
On Tuesday, December 7, 2004 the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was able to give a big boost to the current population of pronghorn antelope, a mammal native to this area, by releasing an additional 85 animals. Monument personnel, along with several volunteers and Boy Scout Master Harry Barber's Boy Scouts of America Troop #1748 of Kanab, assisted Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in the capture of these pronghorn from the herd on the Parker Mountain south of Loa, Utah.
This capture and release is intended to augment the existing numbers of pronghorn that comprise the East Clark Bench herd. Two previous releases in this area were accomplished in 1999 and 2000. With these additional numbers, the opportunity to view these animals of the open plains and sagebrush will be greatly increased for those visiting this area of the Monument. These animals prefer open treeless areas so that they can use their eyesight to detect predators and their speed and endurance to distance themselves from these threats. Several to dozens of pronghorn are often seen in a group, adding to the excitement of coming across these speedy animals.
More releases are planned in the coming years until population goals are achieved under the state of Utah's herd management plan for this area. |
