Cabri's resident pronghorn returns to herd via conservation relocation

Cabri has had to bid farewell to a local celebrity recently.

The pronghorn fawn that has been staying within the town's limits throughout the summer and fall has been relocated back to a herd.

Braden Cherney, the inspector for the Swift Current conservation area, is happy to report the success they've had in reintroducing the fawn to the wild.

"They found a herd that was around 50 miles from Cabri," explained Cherney. "There were about 70 antelope in the herd they released it to. As far as we know, he hasn't been back."

This is the second time they have had to relocate the Cabri pronghorn after a first attempt saw him return to the town as eager as ever.

"He was removed initially from the town and taken to a herd that was, I believe, north of Cabri," said Cherney. "Just a short distance, and within several days, he had returned."

There was plenty of enjoyment for folks during the pronghorn's stay in town. Notedly for the kids at the local school, who were spotted feeding the fawn during their recess breaks. 

Others were having fun spotting the critter around town or seeing him perusing their gardens and flower beds. 

"We did get a call from the school that they were concerned about the activities around feeding it," said Cherney. "Anytime you have wildlife interface with a community things can go wrong. They're unpredictable, even if it's a small fawn of an antelope, you never know if a kid's going to startle it or if it will perceive someone as a threat."

Cherney shared a similar story, about how a young deer fawn had been acclimated in a town, and how once it had grown, it started headbutting people walking down the streets. While a grown pronghorn is smaller than a full-sized Buck, they still have sharp hooves and, all be it smaller, antlers of their own. 

"Although it looks like it's fairly innocent," said Cherney. "At some point, that wildlife is wild, and there is an unpredictability to that."

If anyone spots this furry friend back in town again, they are asked to please report it to the authorities so that they may assist in relocating it to the wild.