Where are the Carrizo Plains Pronghorn?

October 22, 2020

Question: For years, I would see pronghorn antelope along Highway 58 in the Carrizo Plains. After the solar farms went in, I saw less and less. In the last few years, I’ve not seen a single one. What is the current status of the pronghorn antelopes in the Carrizo Plains? (Lee)

Answer: The population of pronghorn on the Carrizo Plains has been declining for many years due to changes in land use. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is actively working to retain a viable pronghorn population there.

CDFW manages the Carrizo Plains Ecological Reserve and the North Carrizo Ecological Reserve. On those lands, we are improving pronghorn habitat connectivity by modifying and removing fencing. We are also improving water availability by managing the number of troughs available. Additionally, we are actively working to improve habitat with other agencies and non-profit groups that manage land on the Carrizo, including the Bureau of Land Management, Carrizo Plain Conservancy and Sequoia Riverlands Trust.

Solar projects, which are beneficial in that they help California reach lofty renewable energy goals, have displaced a portion of the pronghorn’s core habitat which has made the herds more difficult to see from Highway 58. However, the population occupies habitat in areas outside the solar panel arrays as well, such as along Soda Lake Road and areas to the south. The Carrizo is a unique area as it is one of the only places in the state where the public can view populations of both pronghorn and tule elk. CDFW and its partner agencies will continue working to improve habitat suitability there.