CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The population of pronghorn antelope increases when coyotes are removed, according to preliminary results from a study to see why antelope were not recovering quickly from harsh winters.

The study was done over a four-year period on a herd of antelope in Carbon County where most coyotes had been removed. The study was conducted by a University of Wyoming student at the request of the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board.

Officials caution that the data is not necessarily conclusive because of the small size of the herd studied.

Project coordinator Rod Merrill of Rawlins said the short-term removal of coyotes in the targeted areas was proposed after several harsh winters led to sluggish population growth among antelope.

He said the study shows that coyote predation was the major factor limiting the rebound of antelope populations in the larger Baggs Antelope Herd Unit.

Besides antelope, landowners in one study area reported increases in the number of sage grouse, mule deer and sand hill cranes.

AP-WS-03-29-04 1112EST