NPS/Patrick Myers

Ever had an animal smile at you? Pronghorns appear to have a perpetual smile, even though their lives are not easy. Adapted for life on wide open prairies, they are the fastest land animal in North America, reaching speeds over 60 mph. They can endure painful temperatures down to 40 below zero F, or over 100 F, and are stung by high winds, blizzards, and cold rains. Able to go without liquid water for weeks, pronghorns have extreme body-efficiency and the ability to produce metabolic water from the grasses they eat. For protection from predators, pronghorn babies are born with virtually no scent, and can run within minutes of being born!