by Joshua Haiar South Dakota Searchlight

Julie volunteering to replace sheep fences with a pronghorn-friendly alternative , aiming to improve the survival of the world ’ s second-fastest land mammal .

Pronghorn antelope are native to North America and thrive in the American West , including the Dakotas . The animals reach speeds of 60 mph , making them well-suited to the region ’ s open , semi-arid plains .

However , pronghorns prefer to crawl under rather than leap over fences , and parts of western South Dakota are fenced for sheep with wire-grid fencing that ’ s difficult to go under .

Some of the land that was once used for sheep now serves other uses , like cattle ranching . But sheep fencing remains .

So , in June , South Dakota Bowhunters Association members began working alongside landowners to remove

existing fencing and replace it with pronghorn-friendly fencing .

“ This state is home to tens of thousands of hunters , and every year we take and take ,” said association member and volunteer Rob Mahaffey , of Rapid City . “ Let ’ s also give back .”

Up to late July , the team has conducted three outings , helping landowners remove and replace about 4 miles of fencing , with another 6 miles lined up . The association said it ’ s just the

start , and more volunteers are needed .

“ We ’ ve seen firsthand how these fences can hurt pronghorns ,” Mahaffey said . “ They get hung up in the fence trying to evade a predator , or they ’ re unable to get to safety during a blizzard .”

The new fencing meets the requirements set by state wildlife

Mahaffey installs fencing north of Hereford , SD on July 20 , 2024 . ( Courtesy of Rob Mahaffey ).

Below , pronghorns frequently run into barriers even on the open prairie . It can make them more vulnerable to predation , as they move along a fenceline looking for an opening . Fences are even more of a problem in winter .

Bill Mitzel