Wyoming's Red Desert and the Pronghorn
Tucked away in southwestern Wyoming, the Red Desert remains one of the last high-desert ecosystems in North America. Long before the West was settled, the region played a significant role in the lives of native peoples, including the Shoshone and Ute tribes, and its unique features helped guide pioneers on their way to Oregon, California and Washington.
Now its rich landscape offers refuge to the pronghorn, the largest migratory herd in the lower 48 states, desert elk and many species of rare birds. However, this truly untamed region is under threat of oil and gas drilling.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the federal agency responsible for safeguarding much of the lands and resources of the Red Desert, has proposed to increase oil and gas development in this region, threatening this wild landscape and its wildlife.
The Red Desert encompasses more than eight million acres of public lands that contain many unique things. Among its inhabitants are the world's largest herd of desert elk, 50,000 pronghorn antelope, historic landmarks, rare plant species and primitive rock art.
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