Pronghorn

The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in North America. They are often called antelope because of their resemblance to antelope in Africa but they are not in the same family.The pronghorn is the only surviving member of the Antilocapridae family. There were five different species in the Antilocapridae family when man came to North America but over time the four other species became extinct.

The pronghorn gets its name from the front facing point, or prong, in the middle of their horn. The horn has a core of bone that extends from the frontal bones of the skull. This bone is covered with a sheath of skin and keratinous fibers. Each year this sheath must be shed and then regrown. Pronghorn are found mainly in the grasslands in the western half of the Untied States and parts of Mexico. These were photographed in Yellowstone National Park.

Pronghorn

The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Americas. They have been known to reach speeds in excess of 55 MPH, which is the second fastest land mammal in the world next to the cheetahs of Africa. The pronghorn is often called an antelope but even though they resemble some of the antelope from the plains of Africa they are actually the only member of the Antilocaprideae family that still exists.

These animals are true plains animals with several adaptations that help them exist in the dry plains of western North America. Looking at them you will notice that they have large eyes which sit very high on their head. Pronghorn have excellent long distance vision which helps them to see predators like wolves, coyotes and grizzly bears from a considerable distance. Usually pronghorn travel in herds which gives them more eyes to watch for predators. When a predator is spotted the pronghorn will use its great speed to try and out run the predator.

The Pronghorn is named for its unusual split horn. The horn is made of bone which extends out from the skull. The bone is covered by a sheath made of a hair like substance or keratin. Each year this sheath is shed and then needs to be regrown. Males typically have larger, well developed horns, where females have smaller horns or no horns at all. This male was a part of a small bachelor group which I was photographing as it was traveling across the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Pronghorn

The pronghorn antelope is one of seven different types of ungulate, hoofed mammals, that live in Yellowstone. The other six types of ungulate are bison, moose, elk, big horned sheep, mountain goat and deer. Pronghorns, like the other ungulates, spend their time roaming Yellowstone's grasslands consuming large amounts of vegetation.
Pronghorn are named for their unique branched horns. These horns are made up of 2 parts, a bony core, which grows out from the skull, and an outer sheath made up of a hairlike substance called keratin. This outer sheath is shed and then regrown each year. Female pronghorns have smaller, typically non-pronged horns or no horns at all. The pronghorn above is a female. The males, like the one pictured below, have pronged horns which average about one foot long.
Pronghorns are found only in North America. They have adapted well to living on the open prairies and grasslands of the west. They have very keen eyesight which allows them to see movement up to 3 miles away. Their eyes are very large and set way back in their head, this gives them a 320 degree field of vision and allows them to watch for predators even when they have their heads down to munch on the prairie grasses. If a predator is spotted the hair on the pronghorn's rump will stand erect, making the rump appear more white, to warn other members of the herd to the danger. When confronted by a predator the pronghorn will attempt to run away. As the fastest land mammal in North America, sprinting speed is up to 60 mph, there are not many predators who can keep up. Even the cheetah, which is considered by most people as the fastest land mammal in the world, would be hard pressed to beat a pronghorn in a race. The cheetah may be slightly faster in a sprint, estimated between 60 to 70 mph, but the pronghorn can not only sprint at abound 60 mph in can also run at a pace of around 30 mph for many miles. Both of these pronghorn were photographed out in the Lamar Valley.

Home, home in Bowdoin where the birds and the antelope play

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge has lakes, ponds and potholes but it also has prairie. We saw quite a few creatures living out in the fields surrounding the water.
The western kingbird is named such because its range extends through the western portion of North America. Over the past 100 years the range of the western kingbird has been slowly encroaching on that of its cousin the eastern kingbird, including a wintering population is south Florida.
There were plenty of western meadowlarks everywhere that we went it was nice to hear there song as we were driving along.Western meadowlarks can be found in open country such as fields, pastures and grasslands. They are a ground forager. They can often be seen searching the ground and the dirt for bugs, plants and seeds. This bird found itself what looked to be a plump cricket for lunch.
There were also plenty of insects in the fields including bees of several types, moths, grasshopper, and butterflies, like this sulfur. We were lucky that we did not really have any problems with mosquitoes. Maybe it was still too early in the year or maybe it was the low water level, either way we were grateful for not having to deal with the little pests.
One of the big surprises at Bowdoin was when we came across this pronghorn buck. We had seen a few rodents and other small mammals but we were not expecting to see anything like this while we were out birding. He was resting in the grass but decided to move further away from the road when we stopped the car to take a couple of pics.

Yellowstone Day 2: Pronghorn, bison and bears, oh my!

Day two, Monday, started out cloudy but cleared up a bit later in the afternoon. As with most days we headed north to the Tower and Lamar Valley area of the park. On our way into the Lamar Valley we spotted a lone pronghorn buck crossing a field. Pronghorn are the fastest mammals in North America with a sustained speed of about 30mph and a burst speed of up to 60mph.

On our way back out of Lamar Valley we ran into a bison jam. The bison jam is a bit different then a bear jam. A bear jam is when everyone stops to watch a bear that can be seen from roadside. A bison jam is when everyone stops because the bison have left the roadside and are now blocking the road. These can last a long time depending on where it happens and whether you are traveling in the same direction as the bison are. On our last morning we spent over 2 hours in a bison jam. This one we only had to stop for a few minutes and we took the opportunity to photo some of the new calves.

Over by Tower we spotted Rosie and her yearling cubs. Rosie is a well known bear that spends a lot of time by Tower Falls. We have photographed her with cubs 4 different years.

Last spring we were able to shoot her when these cubs where new born. Now they have been with her for over a year.

Rosie and the cubs where very playful.

This wrestling with mom and with each other is how the cubs learn. These lessons are very valuable as this summer Rosie will chase the cubs away and then they will be on their own.

Wrestling with cubs can make a bear hungry.

Cubs get hungry too.

Once the cubs are on their own Rosie will look for a mate so that next year we will hopefully be treated to another new set of cubs.