Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-10-07
THE PRONG
HORNED ANTELOPE
His Species Fast Becoming Extinct. Wind
Cave National Park a Possible
Haven for This Wonder
ful Ruminant
By h. P. KING,

few years ago our western plains
we're decked with countless numbers OF
prong-horned antelope today this swift
and agile little animal is slated for ex-
tinction. Scientists predict that twenty
years more will suffice TO place them on
the roll of as-beens," along with the
Rytina, Passenger Pigeon and Labrador
Duck,
Disease, the trend of civilization, and
the unerring aim of the thoughtless
| hunter has wrought havoc in the ranks
of the sole existing representative of the
family Antilocapridae, and, so far, at
tempts at domestication have met with
but meager results. The various ZOO
logical societies, and both state and ma
tional parks have tried the propagation
OF this fast disappearing animal, but
their efforts in most cases, so far as the
writer is informed, have been failures.
While the prong horned antelope in
his native haunts seems possessed with
hardy constitution; in captivity, he
has but little stamina, and will pine
away and die without any apparent
cause whatever. Even in his wild state
he is subject to actinomycosis, disease
which scientists claim always proves
fatal. This dreadful disease, together
with the hunter, has in the last few
years thinned their ranks to such an ex-
tent that today there are but four or five
states in the union where they can be
found in their wild state, and in these
states they can be counted by the hun.
dreds, where few years ago there were
thousands upon thousands.
These animals have been subjected to
different classifications by various natur-
alists. BY the early writer's they were
regarded as a subdivision ofthe Bovidae,
but now, by the best authority, they are
considered a separate family denominat-
ed Antllocapridae. Even the name
antelope can not properly be applied to
them, but as they have attained this
name from the fact that the naturaIists
at first thought that they were species
of the antelope, they will probably al
ways retain it. They have so MANY
characteristics not possessed by the real
antelope, of which there are nearly one
hundred species, that they are now class
ed in a family by themselves, of which
they are the sole surviving species.
Among their peculiarities may be noted
The annual shedding Of horns the alb
sence of lateral hoofs the forked horns;
the tall crowned teeth, and the peculiar
white hair on the bullock, which be-
comes expanded when frightened In
color they are reddish brown. with the
underparts, the sides of the head, the
throat and the buttock white. There is
also considerable black about the head, |
especially of the bucks, which have a |
black spot on each jaw An adult male |
stands about three feet high at the |
shoulders, and there is very little differ |
ence in the size of the female Most ofl
the females have horns, but of a rudi-
mentary kind. All of the bucks have
horns, which come out right over the
eye and are about nine inches long.
These horns are forked, which gives
them the name of pronghorn, and are
shed annually
In confinement, these animals become |
very tame, and even in their wild state
their curiosity makes them an easy prey
for the hunter, as they can be attracted |
a long distance by anything out of the
ordinary, such as the waving of a bright |
colored handkerchief, etc. An old buck !
has been known to attack a man during |
the ruttng season, but as rule they are
very dociIe. Their horns are very sharp,
and they are dangerous anipal when
they do get on the fight They have
their young about the 10th of May, aud |
frequently give birth to twins.
Two years ago the government placed |
thirteen head of these animals in the
Wind Cave Game Preserve During the |
first season this little band was reduced
TO seven head, but fortunately the past
season has produced better results, lin
fact the writer knows of no place where
results have been better there being
seven fawns born this season, which |
brings the total of the herd up to four
teen head. The above result is partly
accredited to the care which the warden
has given them, and partly to the loca-
ton, which is considered ideal 1t is
hoped that this preserve may be the
means of propagating this noble little
animal, as their extinction in the wild
state is but question of few years.