Spirit of the Sagebrush: Pronghorn Migration in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

In 2023, I began a series of paintings featuring ungulate migration in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with a particular focus on pronghorn migration and movement. I utilize maps produced by wildlife researchers and governmental agencies as a basis for my interpretive paintings.

Threats to pronghorn migration and habitat include anthropogenic disturbances such as wildlife-unfriendly fencing, sites of extraction of natural resources, (coal, oil, natural gas, wind power), rapid escalation of housing development, railroads, roads, and climate change. Migration routes are taught over millennia via individual and group memory. The man-made elements that block traditional routes may result in pronghorn losing their ancient migration memory, as well as access to forage. And, as a result, the species will fail to survive. I could haphazardly wax eloquently about the uniqueness of pronghorn and the challenges to their survival, but will defer to this: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373656609_Chapter_19_Pronghorn

It is my goal to incorporate these paintings in a proposed multi-disciplinary and collaborative exhibit (to include scientific data, commissioned music, photography, and film) that will highlight the beauty and the challenges of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). This immersive exhibit will address the human-generated challenges inflicted upon migrating pronghorn. The desired outcome is a strengthening of support to protect, preserve, and improve these corridors of travel.

In the meantime, I am learning more about pronghorns, not only in my backyard but at the outer edges of their habitat. They are truly magical creatures: the unicorns living amongst us.