Movements, Habitat Use, and Predation on Pronghorn Fawns in Alberta

Abstract

Sixty-two pronghorn (A. americana) neonates were fitted with radio collars in southeastern Alberta and located daily for 58 days or until death. The mean distance between bedded siblings was 73.4 m; they were first seen bedded together at 7 days of age and after 24 days they were together habitually. Mean daily movements and home ranges of fawns increased (P < 0.001) with age. Bedding-site selection and vegetation used by fawns did not change markedly during the 58-day observation period. Fawns preferred heavy native vegetation and under-used cultivated land. Predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) and bobcats (Felis rufus) caused the death of at least 43.5% of 62 marked fawns. Predation was highest on 4-15-day-old fawns, but remained important for animals between 16 and 57 days of age. During the past 10 yr in Alberta, annual fawn mortality has approximated 50%. This rate of fawn mortality has not limited the growth of the provincial pronghorn population.