1986 



^ igag Just knowing that a wild thing has been 

 there before you may be enough for most 

 people, but anglers, hunters, and photog- 

 raphers can all bring home the evidence of 

 an abundance of wildlife from Montana's 

 streams, mountains, and plains. 



This chapter describes the principal spe- 

 cies, their habits and habitats, and some of 

 their unique qualities. 



Pronghom: Antilocapra americana 



The pronghorn, or antelope, is a plains 

 animal that ranges into grassy mountain- 

 ous areas, mostly in central and eastern 

 Montana. It depends on sagebrush for win- 

 ter forage. Some small herds now thrive 

 west of the Continental Divide where they 

 were reintroduced after becoming nearly 

 extinct around the turn of the century. A 

 small number of Montana pronghorns in- 

 troduced in one of the Hawaiian Islands in 

 the 1950s are well established there. 

 Pronghorns are among the fastest animals 

 on earth, and have been clocked at 70 miles 



an hour for short periods; 45 miles an hour 

 is not unusual. Their speed and their excel- 

 lent eyesight are their defenses against 

 predators. (A pronghorn is pictured in the 

 Grasslands chapter.) 



Moose: Alces alces 



This largest member of the deer family 

 lives mostly in the northern coniferous 

 forests of this continent, and is found 

 along waterways where aspen and willows 

 give shelter and browse. Moose are adapt- 

 able, and eat the leaves and tender bran- 

 ches of chokecherry and serviceberry as 

 well as aquatic plants. 



Though awkward in appearance, the 

 moose has a fast, easy gait, and is a good 

 swimmer, as well. The young are born 

 every two years, and are often twins. When 

 disturbed or cornered, moose can inflict in- 

 jury with their sharp-hoofed front feet. The 

 males also use their broad, scoop-like 

 antlers. (For another picture, see the 

 Grasslands chapter.) 



Moose 



Monlatlii Department ot Fish. U'ildlile & Parks 



