PULLMAN, Wash. — A baby pronghorn antelope — named Marcie after the Washington State University wildlife veterinarian who rehabilitated her — is now a resident of the Minnesota Zoo, the nation’s leading institution for conservation and education efforts for the species in the country.
The pronghorn, brought in to WSU earlier this summer and later transported to its new home at the Minnesota Zoo, is the first ever rehabilitated pronghorn documented in Washington state.
WSU wildlife veterinarian Dr. Marcie Logsdon said it was noticed the animal was taken from its herd when a pet owner found their dog carrying the 7-pound newborn antelope — the fastest known land animal in North and South America — in its mouth.
“This happens from time to time. We’ve seen it happen with deer fawns. The dogs don’t think it is their baby or anything but they’re intrigued — they found a fun thing and they want to pick it up and bring it back.”
The pronghorn, though hardly injured, required antibiotics, fluids, and bottle feeding to return its health to good standing. However, reuniting the animal with its lost herd posed challenges.
“Reuniting pronghorn can be tricky because the herd is mobile and doesn’t want anything to do with people, and the animal may not be accepted by the herd,” Logsdon said. “Then there’s always concern when you’re raising something like this by itself that the animal will become imprinted on humans and may be drawn to them in the wild.”
Given the circumstances, Logsdon said captive placement at a facility where the pronghorn could aid conservation and education efforts made most sense.
At the Minnesota Zoo, where pronghorn have been cared for since 1980, the animal is one of eight in a habitat that features the same steppe and prairie terrain pronghorns are accustomed to in the wild.
“North American species, like pronghorn, have vibrant stories that don’t always get the attention they deserve,” said Diana Weinhardt, curator of the Minnesota Zoo’s Northern Trail. “As the fifth largest zoo in the country, the Minnesota Zoo is unique in the number of North American species in our care. To me, pronghorn are the forgotten, cool part of our prairies and this fawn will be a remarkable ambassador for her counterparts in the wild.”
Logsdon said to her knowledge it’s the first time she’s had an animal named after her.
“There were a lot of people involved in this case, but I am honored that the zoo chose to her name after me.”
Pronghorn were once a threatened species in North America due to overhunting and habitat destruction. Today, the animal population has rebounded and pronghorn are found throughout the West, with many states offering pronghorn hunting seasons.
Media Contacts
- Marcie Logsdon, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, 509-335-0711, mlogsdon@wsu.edu
- Josh Babcock, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, 509-339-3423, joshua.babcock@wsu.edu
