“Killed and left to decay”: USA’s fastest mammal at the centre of a poaching case in Colorado

Officials are asking the public for help in a poaching case that has left the continent's fastest mammal dead.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a dead pronghorn antelope was discovered in the Swallows Road area on September 1. The pronghorn antelope was located about 75 yards from the road that leads to Swallows State Wildlife Area near Pueblo West.

“It was early in the morning, just at daybreak on the first day of dove hunting season,” said Gretchen Holschuh, District Wildlife Manager for the Pueblo West region. “We are asking for the help of any dove hunters or visitors to the SWA who were out at the time. This was a senseless act where someone intentionally killed this animal and just left it there. These are poachers, not hunters, and we will be fully investigating this.”

The case could lead to numerous charges, including animal nuisance, big game hunting without a permit, illegal taking of wildlife and careless use of a firearm, among others. Also notable is the fact that the animal was found so close to a road and left to rot.

Officials said a conviction could result in a fine of up to $13,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months, depending on the severity of the charges.

Anyone with information on the case has been asked to contact CPW or report anonymously through Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. A $500 reward may be offered if information provided leads to an arrest or summons.

Pronghorn antelopes are the fastest mammal on the North American continent and the second fastest in the world. They can reach speeds of up to 60 mph. Some believe that pronghorn antelopes developed these speeds because they needed to be faster than the now extinct American cheetah many, many years ago. Read more about it here.