The Essential Pronghorn Corridor in the Greater Hart-Sheldon

Devlin Holloway

The Greater Hart-Sheldon straddles the Oregon-Nevada border and provides essential habitat for pronghorn, as well as hundreds of other sagebrush-dependent plants and animals. In 2016, the region supported more than 8,000 pronghorn. However, populations have declined since then, with the most recent count at 4,313 animals in 2019.

As Shannon Ludwig, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex Refuge Manager, explained, “fences clearly can disrupt migration corridors for wildlife, especially larger ungulate wildlife, with how the fences are designed. Deer like to jump over fences, and pronghorn and bighorn sheep like to go under the fences.”

Information recently published by the U.S. Geological Survey highlights the critical importance of the Greater Hart-Sheldon to the future of North America’s “prairie ghost.” ONDA used this GIS data to create the map below, which highlights how much of the migration corridor lacks a strong protective status and how many miles of fencing still cross this corridor.

voices

Michelle Frisella, member since 2017

Michelle Frisella, member since 2017

So proud of ONDA and its members and volunteers. Such hard work gets done. To use an overused word, this is patriotism!

voices

John Cunningham, ONDA member and volunteer

John Cunningham, ONDA member and volunteer

Restoration is hard slow work. It takes hold, or it doesn’t, in fits and starts. The immensity of the need can be discouraging, but we must carry on. I am so thankful ONDA carries on.

watch

Helen Harbin on Wildlife

Helen Harbin on Wildlife