Sul Ross borderlands institute seeks tissue samples for pronghorn study

ALPINE The Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University is seeking tissue samples for an ongoing pronghorn research study.

Texas Parks and Wildlife  has partnered with the Borderlands Research Institute for Natural Resource Management for a two-year project measuring the effects of barriers on pronghorn populations in West Texas.

In the 1970s, TPWD divided the pronghorn population into herd units that were differentiated by habitat quality, large land holdings, mountain ranges, roads and fences.

Since then, many of these factors have changed, potentially affecting the pronghorn population size and distribution within these herd units.

The goal of the project is to evaluate the current herd units that are used. The units were established in 1978.
Landowners are being contacted to supply tissue samples of harvested pronghorn (a one-inch tip of the tongue), the date and the location (property and ranch) where the pronghorn was taken.

According to Louis Harveson, Sul Ross professor of Natural Resource Management and director of the Borderlands Research Institute, tissue samples were collected from 165 pronghorn in 2007, about 40 percent of the total harvest from 31 herd units in West Texas.

"Since then, interest in the progress of the study has increased," Harveson said. "The success of the study depends on hunter and landowner participation.
The result of this project will further our knowledge on pronghorn movements and allow us to improve management strategies for this important resource of West Texas."

For more information, contact Harveson, 432-837-8488 or harveson@sulross.edu.