Knowledge - A Key Component to Survival

Perhaps the most threatening circumstance for the Sonoran Pronghorn relates to the lack of acquired knowledge by humans pertaining to the behavior and characteristics of the pronghorn.

Researchers understood the pronghorn needed water to survive the drought. A dilemma arose based upon the assumption the pronghorn did not drink water. Later observations noted the pronghorn would drink moving water in drought conditions. A group of concerned citizens conducted research on the pronghorn and discovered under drought conditions the pronghorn would drink nonmoving or standing water. This knowledge placed a plan into action consisting of researchers carrying water on foot over 5 miles of Sonoran Desert to save the drought stricken pronghorn.

Ranchers believed Sonoran Pronghorn competed with cattle for grazing land and resources. The pronghorn suffered from this misconception until studies were conducted in the mid 1930s proving Sonoran Pronghorn do not share eating preferences with cattle or spread the dreaded cow disease brucellosis.

On March 20, 2008, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posted a news release asking the public to contribute observations, studies and information pertaining to the Sonoran Pronghorn and 27 other endangered species. Public comment remained open until July 23, 2008. The cooperation of government, science research, conservation groups, and concerned citizens sharing knowledge better enables plans of strategy for the survival of endangered species. Acquiring knowledge about endangered species offers an opportunity to contribute to the survival of species