Vernal » The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has moved pronghorn antelope from Parker Mountain in southern Utah to new homes in the northeastern part of the state.

The division relocated 49 pronghorn to the Book Cliffs and 50 pronghorn to an area southeast of Duchesne.

The pronghorn were moved to help offset a severe decline in the number of the animals in northeastern Utah caused in part by drought. Without adding new animals to herds already there, biologists are afraid the herds could be lost.

Wildlife division biologists also have upgraded water and forage conditions where the pronghorn live.

Wildlife biologist Dax Mangus says the Parker Mountain herds produce excess animals that have to be removed and that this is a good solution.