Antelope survey

[Brushcrawler]

Thanks for the information and the work on this project. Maybe someday they will take hold to the point they can be a growing population.

[Bushcraft]

The antelope were released twice on the Yakama reservation. The Colvilles had a separate release on their reservation.

https://conservationnw.org/our-work/wildlife/pronghorn-antelope/

I'm not sure why Con NW was mentioned since they didn't (and don't) have a frickin' thing to do with the reintroduction efforts.  For that matter, neither did WDFW!!!

Here's a video of what actually happened.  SCI, Nevada, and the Yakima tribe were the instrumental parties.

https://sci-washington.com/index.html

[dwils233]

The antelope were released twice on the Yakama reservation. The Colvilles had a separate release on their reservation.

https://conservationnw.org/our-work/wildlife/pronghorn-antelope/

I'm not sure why Con NW was mentioned since they didn't (and don't) have a frickin' thing to do with the reintroduction efforts.  For that matter, neither did WDFW!!!

Here's a video of what actually happened.  SCI, Nevada, and the Yakima tribe were the instrumental parties.

https://sci-washington.com/index.html

Well there seems to be two parallel reintroduction efforts- one by the Yakama Nation and the other by the CCT. Whereas the Yakama worked closely with SCI on reintroduction, it's not explicitly clear what the overlap/engagement of the CCT and Con NW is (or is not).

Might be worth asking the CCT?  might be quiet funding it, monitoring, working with the Tribal NR staff, etc.

At the end of the day, these are both TRIBAL releases because no one else (ie SCI or Con NW) can bring wildlife into the state for such an effort without a Tribe or the WDFW. Who supports them and how credit gets shared is their business really

[Bushcraft]

The antelope were released twice on the Yakama reservation. The Colvilles had a separate release on their reservation.

https://conservationnw.org/our-work/wildlife/pronghorn-antelope/

I'm not sure why Con NW was mentioned since they didn't (and don't) have a frickin' thing to do with the reintroduction efforts.  For that matter, neither did WDFW!!!

Here's a video of what actually happened.  SCI, Nevada, and the Yakima tribe were the instrumental parties.

https://sci-washington.com/index.html

Well there seems to be two parallel reintroduction efforts- one by the Yakama Nation and the other by the CCT. Whereas the Yakama worked closely with SCI on reintroduction, it's not explicitly clear what the overlap/engagement of the CCT and Con NW is (or is not).

Might be worth asking the CCT?  might be quiet funding it, monitoring, working with the Tribal NR staff, etc.

At the end of the day, these are both TRIBAL releases because no one else (ie SCI or Con NW) can bring wildlife into the state for such an effort without a Tribe or the WDFW. Who supports them and how credit gets shared is their business really

Agreed.  The reintroduction had to be facilitated by the tribes since WDFW was originally adamantly against bringing pronghorn back to Washington.  CCT used some shared information from SCI and Nevada, but they did their reintroductions autonomously.

In my opinion they have some of the best wildlife biologists in the state. 

[teal101]

Saw a decent buck this last spring on the Colville Rez.  Cool to see them around.

[wa.hunter]

Sure was hoping that there were some eyes in that area that had seen some antelope recently.  We are still doing he survey on the 18th and don’t want to miss any.  If you know of any recent sightings please let me know.. I will spend a couple days over there trying to find them in areas I am not familiar with them being in..

[TeacherMan]

Any idea the total numbers in Washington?

[Roslyn Rambler]

The antelope you are seeing north of I -90 are a result of the Colville Nation transplant. Their release also was on tribal lands north of the Columbia River. However these animals seem to know where they came from and also headed back to Nevada and swam the Columbia where a few did not make it..there were at one time 6 over by Ritzville north of the hiway which reduced somehow to just 2 does and they have not been seen in the last 2 years .. there are still sufficient numbers in the Mansfield/ Waterville area.. we are not a part of that survey so not sure what is going on with WDFW on surveys there.. I do know that some of the cattle grazing allotments on DNR land have those individuals complains about loosing grazing allotments due to the antelope.

To clarify, headed back towards Nevada, or, were actually successful on that journey?

( Edit to add )

I've watched a few documentaries on Antelope migration. Lots of articles and studies. I'll add a quote... "the “Great Migration” route of the pronghorns, one of the greatest migrations in North America.  Each fall and spring, 300-400 pronghorns (down from 6,000)  migrate 150 miles from their summer birthing grounds in Grand Teton National Park to their winter grounds near Pinedale, Wyoming.  This great migration, named by biologists as the “Path of the Pronghorn” is remarkable and one of the last long-distance animal migrations in the world"

I drew a straight line from the Yakama Nation to the Oregon / Nevada border. Assuming they came from NW Nevada. 350 miles +-. That's double the distance, or more, of the Wyoming antelope journey. Pretty remarkable and worth it's own amazing story. Thanks for sharing all the information. Super cool!!!

[wa.hunter]

For those interested the survey involved 7 groups of pairs. We covered from the Columbia River north to Yakama Nation property..from Richland to Goldendale. 3 of the 7 groups found antelope. Each group spent approximately 4 hours driving  their route and met in Bickelton. This survey was done primarily by 3 SCI chapters with the locations of antelope to be shared with WDFW whom I believe will do an airiel survey at some point.
Our groups found 183 antelope. With a high buck to doe/fawn ratio. A lot of areas were not covered do to access and time involved with the survey.

[Dan-o]

For those interested the survey involved 7 groups of pairs. We covered from the Columbia River north to Yakama Nation property..from Richland to Goldendale. 3 of the 7 groups found antelope. Each group spent approximately 4 hours driving  their route and met in Bickelton. This survey was done primarily by 3 SCI chapters with the locations of antelope to be shared with WDFW whom I believe will do an airiel survey at some point.
Our groups found 183 antelope. With a high buck to doe/fawn ratio. A lot of areas were not covered do to access and time involved with the survey.

Thanks so much for the follow up.

It sounds like they're doing pretty good. 

[kselkhunter]

Agreed, thanks for the follow up on how the survey went.  It's good to see the work being put in to track the antelope herds and monitor health and long term longevity. 

[lhrbull]

Did anyone hear the results