Paved roads, trails, and fences are improvements that make our lives easier, but they present barriers for animals living on the Colorado Plateau.
We are studying wildlife movement in House Rock Valley, north of the Grand Canyon, and modifying fences to help animals reach water sources and move within their home range.
Size: 75–110 pounds
Diet: Desert grasses, shrubs, and cacti
Habitat and range: Pronghorn live in grasslands across much of the West. There are three subspecies in Arizona.
Topping out at 55 miles per hour, pronghorn are some of the fastest animals in the world. Yet despite their powerful, lean legs, they can’t jump.
Fences stop them in their tracks — a serious problem in a landscape crisscrossed with barbed-wire cattle fences. Rather than hop over fences, pronghorn will try to squeeze underneath. But wires are typically strung too low, scraping pronghorns’ backs and leaving them susceptible to infection and disease.
We work in strategic locations where pronghorn return year after year to replace the bottom wire with a smooth one and raise it to 18 inches off the ground — enough space for pronghorn to pass through. Since 2011, Grand Canyon Trust volunteers have helped make 15 miles of fences wildlife-friendly.
We have more miles of barbed wire fence to replace in House Rock Valley north of the Grand Canyon. Volunteer with us ›
Animals tend to use the same routes to reach water, food, and mates. Researchers studying wildlife movement on the North Rim Ranches predicted the locations of these "animal highways." But actual wildlife sightings can be few and far between in such vast landscapes. Rather than twiddle our thumbs and wait for animals to walk by, we're using motion-activated cameras to help scientists study wildlife movement on the North Rim Ranches. Volunteers help us replace batteries, pull memory cards, and sift through thousands of photos.
Our volunteers set up motion-activated cameras to test the scientists' models.
These photos have not only helped scientists improve their maps, but also give us a window into the secret lives of animals in the region. This information helps us prioritize restoration at areas critical for wildlife.
Pronghorn and barbed wire fences don't mix, but volunteers are working to change that, one wire at a time.
Read More
Four fascinating facts about pinyon jays that will have you ready to birdwatch in the name of conservation.
Read More
Volunteers do the heavy lifting so native plants and wildlife have healthy water sources in the forest.
Read More