Natural History

The Pronghorn Antelope is the only surviving member of the Antilocapridae Family. It is a medium, deer-size animal with long, thin legs, a large white rump patch and white on the sides of its face. Both males and females have forked (or "pronged") horns (not antlers) that are shed each year. Pronghorns inhabit open plains and grasslands, living alone or in small bands in summer and forming large herds in winter.
 

Pronghorns are ruminants - they have an even number of toes and chew their cud. They eat grasses and forbes, but also browse on globemallow, brickellia, sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and other shrubs. In late summer or early Fall, the male gathers a harem of about 3 or 4 does. Females give birth to 1 or 2 fawns in May or June. The Pronghorn is the second fastest land animal on the planet, running in 20-foot bounds at up to 60 miles per hour (the Cheetah is the fastest). Unlike the Cheetah, however, the Pronghorn can sustain a fast pace for hours at a time.