09/20/2026
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) can often be seen on the drive out to the Green River to begin a river trip. Here's one having a stroll in the lush alfalfa fields of Ruby Ranch.
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Although they're commonly referred to as "North American antelope", the pronghorn is not actually related to the old world antelopes of Africa, the middle east, and central Asia. They were once one of several antilocaprid species that inhabited north America during the ice age, and are the only surviving member of that family.
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Pronghorns are the fastest land mammal in the Americas, reaching speeds of up to 55 mph for short distances. They may have evolved this speed to evade predators that are now long since extinct like prehistoric wolves, north american lions, and even an american species of cheetah.
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While they are capable of incredible speed, they do not possess any great skill for jumping. As such, you can sometimes observe them going underneath fences rather than over them.
