National Park Service – American Pronghorn Habitat Connectivity Grant

Under this project, NPS Natural Resource funding will contribute to a partnership of multiple state and federal agencies, private ranches, and non-profit organizations to reconnect 2,700 square miles of American pronghorn habitat across the Coconino Plateau of northern Arizona. Pronghorn telemetry data will be acquired to compare movement responses to these habitat connectivity treatments to control data acquired during 2007-2010. Landscape level planning and widespread implementation of modification projects was initiated in 2011. The study objectives include testing the effectiveness of the various modifications; developing valid design specifications for pronghorn-friendly highway and range fences; assessing pronghorn habitat utilization in juniper reduction areas; and prioritizing key habitat connectivity areas and corridors, including areas that increase mobility and resiliency under climate-driven habitat change scenarios. The research directly supports planning for a pronghorn passage across US 89 near WUPA, which could be the first of its kind for this species within Arizona. The study results will also be available for planning future pronghorn habitat connectivity actions under fine-scale climate warming scenarios.