EFFECTS OF MIDSUMMER DROUGHT ON MORTALITY OF DOE PRONGHORN (ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA)

Abstract

We found that the number of doe pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) seen on summer surveys in 3 areas in the Southwest was related to midsummer drought indices, and that annual variations in doe mortality might be more important in determining population levels in dry years than fawn recruitment. If carrying capacity is indeed limited by a lack of nutritious forage during dry years, pronghorn managers might want to consider reducing interspecific and intraspecific competition during such periods and forgoing predator control and translocation efforts.