Dr. Justin French and Mike Janis from the Borderlands Research Institute recently participated in the 30th Biennial Pronghorn Workshop, a forum sanctioned by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). This event brought together leading pronghorn managers and researchers to share results, management strategies, and discuss emerging issues concerning the Western Hemisphere’s fastest land mammal.
Dr. French, BRI’s Big Game specialist and assistant professor of Natural Resource Management, presented on “Evaluating Barrier Permeability and Highway Crossing Locations of Pronghorn in a Key Restoration Area Bisected by la Entrada al Pacifico Trade Corridor.” Mike Janis, coordinator of BRI’s Trans-Pecos Grasslands and Riparian Conservation Initiative, spoke about “Implementing a Cost-share Program and Pronghorn Habitat on Private Land in West Texas: Lessons Learned.”
Pronghorn management and restoration are significant undertakings that rely heavily on partnerships among university researchers and wildlife agencies, such as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), which provides oversight in Texas. Shawn Gray, TPWD’s Mule Deer and Pronghorn program leader, has been recognized for his exceptional tenacity and team-building approach in coordinating research, funding, and conservation efforts on private land. Gray received the workshop’s Special Recognition Award and a humorous “rock-on dude” tribute from his peers, who also acknowledged his skill at leading the charge to the chow line.
The workshop highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in pronghorn conservation and the ongoing need for research and strategic management to ensure the species’ future.
Image by Borderlands Research Institute
