WINTER HABITAT SELECTION BY REINTRODUCED PRONGHORN ON ANTELOPE ISLAND, GREAT-SALT-LAKE, UTAH

The recent and future introduction of several ungulate species on Ante lope Island necessitates knowledge of habitat use by each species. In this study habitat preferences of reintroduced pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) on Antelope Island were evaluated during February-March 199 3 and January-March 1994. Elevation, slope, physiography, aspect, and habitat type of sites used by pronghorn were compared to similar data collected from random points. During the severe winter of 1993, prongh orn preferred terrain that was 1281-1380 m in elevation and was relati vely flat or at the base of a hill. Slopes greater than 30% were avoid ed. South-facing slopes were preferred; west-facing slopes were avoide d. Pronghorn preferred sagebrush habitats and avoided grasslands. Duri ng the mild winter of 1994, pronghorn showed preferences for slightly higher elevations, avoided slopes greater than 30%, but used other hab itat features in proportion to their availability. Future winter studi es of pronghorn should include considerations of snowfall patterns and the availability, versus tile abundance, of sagebrush.