MAKING SPACE FOR PRONGHORN IN WYOMING’S RED DESERT

UNWIRED

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Unwired was funded by Knobloch Family Foundation with support from the WYldlife Fund.

In the Red Desert of Wyoming, outdated sheep fences have excluded pronghorn from prime habitat for over 75 years. After record snowfall in 2022-2023 caused thousands of animals to perish along the fences, a group of wildlife professionals discovered an area of more than 100,000 acres that excluded pronghorn. Within a year’s time, a diverse group of partners banded together to restore a portion of access for these animals — roughly 10,000 acres of inaccessible habitat — and give them a better chance at surviving an uncertain future.

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A heartfelt thank you to Tom Chant and NL Land and Livestock for their unwavering dedication to Wyoming’s wildlife and the unique lands that make our state so remarkable.

THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FENCE PROJECT

Why is this work important?

More than 100,000 acres of winter range are unavailable to pronghorn in the Red Desert due to restrictive fencing (1), four times the size of the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, WY.
An additional 51 miles of fence act as a barrier to pronghorn movements.
Partners built 23 miles of new, wildlife-friendlier fences to restore access for pronghorn to 10,000 acres of inaccessible habitat. An additional 8,000 acres of restricted but somewhat accessible habitat was also restored with the construction of the new fences.
During that winter, pronghorn initiated long-distance escape movements to avoid deep snow. Many ran into fences during these movements and died.
Additional energetic costs incurred by pronghorn having to detour around impermeable fences and large blocks of fenced off parcels reduce pronghorn survival.
Creating access to allow pronghorn to move more freely across the landscape increases their chances of survival during extreme weather events.

What can you do to help?

DONATE

Every donation up to $5,000 will be matched by the Knobloch Family Foundation! This match must be fulfilled by December 1, 2025.

Thousands of acres of vital pronghorn habitat in the Red Desert remain completely inaccessible due to fencing. Your contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue these important fence modification projects and restore critical access to wildlife.

DONATE TO THE RED DESERT FENCE INITIATIVE

THE PRONGHORN FUND

Protecting Wyoming’s Pronghorn: Securing Their Future, Preserving Their Legacy

Learn more about the WYldlife Fund’s ongoing efforts to protect and secure pronghorn habitat across Wyoming by exploring our Pronghorn Fund.

THE PRONGHORN FUND

VOLUNTEER

If you are interested in volunteering on fence modification projects in the Red Desert and surrounding area, contact Amy Anderson at 307-332-2688.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Generous contributions help to fund 23 miles of wildlife-friendly fencing in the Red Desert

Lander Region/Red Desert Pronghorn Study

Thousands of Pronghorn Died in Winter of 22’-23’

About the Wyoming Migration Initiative

The Wyoming Migration Initiative is a research group at the University of Wyoming whose mission is to advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of Wyoming’s migratory ungulates through innovative research and public outreach.

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About The WYldlife Fund

The Wyldlife Fund is a partner nonprofit to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The Fund specializes in grant agreements and ensures the efficient allocation of resources on the ground to advance wildlife conservation projects across Wyoming.

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REFERENCES

Aikens, Ellen O., J.A. Merkle, W. Xu, and H. Sawyer. 2025. Pronghorn movements and mortality during extreme weather highlight the critical importance of connectivity. Current Biology.

Hiatt, Greg. 2022. Job Completion Evaluation Report. Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Lander Region Wildlife Division. Lander, WY, USA.