Congratulations and welcome to all the newly minted TMNGLCers. May 16, 2026 Training Class Graduation: Rachel Sitka, Lisa Bexley, Ainsley Allred, Pam Heard, Sherri Ahart, Paul Ropshaw, Candice Landry, Kevin Rice, Sarah Williams, President Jeff Post, Nick Balleza, Steve Albert, Susan Patterson, Stacy Cahak, Training Director Connie Shortes, Christine Feehery [also graduated but missing picture, Karen Newton, John Moore].

April showers bring… the latest newsletter from the Gideon Lincecum Chapter. Click here to read in full.

Deconstruction of a pen to move to a new location on January 28, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Volunteers help with deconstruction of a pen to move to a new location on January 28, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Pen Crew on January 28, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Pen Crew on January 28, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Mornings always start with a safety meeting inside the refuge center with park staff, this one was held January 29, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Park employee Bianca Sicich instructs volunteers on pen construction on January 29, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Volunteers and park staff work to construct a pen in a new location on January 29, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Pen Crew on January 29, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Workers secure netting inside a pen on January 30, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

A gate is added to the pen on January 30, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

TMNGLC members John and Jacquie Pritchard pose with park staff Bianca Sicich on January 30, 2026. Photo by John Pritchard

Pen crew for January 30, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

On February 2, 2026, our fearless leader Jean Stipelcovich displays the key tool of the day for securing netting: zipties. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Volunteers assemble fittings for the electric fencing on February 2, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Volunteers pull lines taught on the pen on February 2, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Pen crew on February 2, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Volunteers work to stabilize fencing on February 3, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Pen crew for February 3, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Pen crew prepare for the day, moving ladders where needed on February 5, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

TMNGLC members Jacquie Pritchard and Krys Westfield help unload tools and supplies on February 5, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Staff member Bianca gives us the “to-do” list for February 5, 2026. Photo by Krystyna Westfield

Baffles inside the pens that prevent the birds from flying too far too fast when spooked, are too low and need to be raised to the ceiling on February 5, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

The entire crew pulls heavy baffles taught – like an overhead tug of war – on February 6, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

“Bianca’s (staff member) Angels”: Jodi, Jacquie, and Krys take a break on February 5, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

Morning pen crew for February 5, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

TMNGLC member Krys gets ready to install rings for attaching anti-predator spikes around the pen on February 5, 2026. Photo by Krystyna Westfield

Final pen acclimation crew on February 6, 2026. Photo by Jean Stipelcovich

For the past two weeks, under supervision of Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge staff, two Texas Master Naturalist chapters have been hard at work helping to spruce up acclimation pens. In anticipation of the arrival of captive-bred young birds later this year, volunteer workers answered the call for help.

As their name suggests, these large, protected pens are set up to help acclimate the birds to the area before being released in the refuge. This work is a critical step in the successful reintroduction of the endangered Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken. Acclimation pens are used for a “soft release,” allowing captive-bred birds to spend approximately two weeks adjusting to the sights, sounds, and weather conditions of the native prairie before full release onto the refuge. The pens are designed to be predator-proof and movable to reduce disease risk, and regular maintenance ensures they remain safe and effective.

Over multiple workdays, volunteers from both the Coastal Prairie and Gideon Lincecum Texas Master Naturalist chapters, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, and refuge volunteers came together to repair netting, tighten paracord ceilings, patch holes, remove invasive plants, install predator deterrents such as electric fences and spikes, and reinforce fencing across several pens. Despite frozen fingers, sore knees, and plenty of time spent kneeling in what volunteer leader Jean Stipelcovich dubbed the “pray-ery,” spirits stayed high. Stipelcovich captured the attitude of crews who showed up ready to work no matter the weather perfectly: “Frozen fingers – warm hearts,”. Volunteers participated in morning and/or afternoon shifts, building on one another’s progress with good humor, teamwork, and a shared sense of purpose. By the end of the two weeks, pens were transformed, plans were in place for final adjustments, and most importantly, the refuge is now ready to welcome the next generation of Attwater’s Prairie-Chickens home.

Once a defining sound of the Gulf Coast prairie, the Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken has experienced a dramatic decline over the past century. “The sounds of male Attwater’s prairie-chickens could be heard throughout the gulf coast prairies of Texas and Louisiana in the early 1900s, when they numbered to about 1 million birds,” (Tympanuchus Cupido Attwateri | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, n.d.). Today, the species is found in only two Texas counties. Habitat loss and fragmentation, historic overhunting, invasive species, and increasing vulnerability to predators and extreme weather have pushed the bird to the brink, leaving less than one percent of its original coastal prairie habitat intact and making every surviving bird critically important to the species’ future.

Established in 1972 near Eagle Lake, Texas, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge plays a central role in the species’ recovery. Refuge staff have focused heavily on controlling red imported fire ants (identified as a major factor in chick mortality) beginning in 2014 (Invasive Fire Ants Make Problems for Attwater’s Prairie Chicken | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2017). These efforts have paid off, leading to increased native insect populations and improved chick survival; between 2012 and 2016, the wild population increased from 48 to 130 birds. Protecting such a small population requires constant vigilance of the refuge staff to  safeguard what remains of this rare and iconic prairie species.

Want to get your boots dusty or just your soul a little quieter? There are plenty of ways to connect with the work happening at Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. Texas Master Naturalist volunteers work on the refuge every Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and anyone is welcome to join in and lend a hand. Prefer to visit instead? The refuge is free to explore and open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, November through May; from June through October, the visitor center is open Thursdays through Saturdays, with the same hours. Whether you hike the trails or drive the auto tour, you’ll find wide skies, wildflowers, and abundant wildlife – including more than 250 bird species that use the refuge throughout the year. Bring your binoculars, listen to the prairie, and take your time – because even if you don’t spot the rare Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken, you’ll leave with something just as valuable: a deeper appreciation for the wild prairie and the people working to protect it.

Participants discuss plan for gamagrass removal. Photo by Marvelyn Granger

Participants begin digging out gamagrass. Photo by Marvelyn Granger

Members of TMN and NPAT harvest gamagrass along the service road of I-10 in Weimar. Photo by Trey Granger

Participants digging up gamagrass along I-10. Photo by Marvelyn Granger

Members Wanda Anglin and Krystyna Westfield take a break from harvesting gamagrass along I-10 on February 3, 2026. Photo from Krystyna Westfield

Buckets full of harvested gamagrass rhizomes begin to fill transportation vehicle. This truck was completely double stacked by the end of the day. Photo by Wanda Anglin

One half of the gamagrass harvesting team. Photo by Wanda Anglin

Participants rehome gamagrass in Elder Prairie Preserve. Photo by Krystyna Westfield

Participants plant gamagrass in Elder Prairie Preserve in Chappell Hill. Photo by Trey Granger

Rehoming crew at Elder Prairie Preserve after a day of planting gamagrass. Photo by Marvelyn Granger.

TMN and NPAT members work together to re-plant gamagrass plants. Photo by Marvelyn Granger

On February 3^rd and 4^th, in collaboration with members of the Native Prairie Association of Texas (NPAT), TMN chapter members worked to rescue and rehome gamagrass ahead of annihilation via construction.  When the news came that construction along I-10 was set to destroy a stand of gamagrass, NPAT was quick to act, and organized this project. Participants spent the first day harvesting gamagrass rhizomes in the Weimar area into large buckets and bags and readying them for transport. On the second day, the gamagrass was planted in two separate areas of the 203-acre Elder Prairie near Chappell Hill.

Participating Texas Master Naturalist Gideon Lincecum chapter members included: Wanda Anglin, trainee Lisa Bexley, CJ Claverie, Marvelyn Granger, Trey Granger, trainee Pam Heard, Cindy McMorran, John Prtichard, Jacquie Pritchard, Dottie Schoeneberg, Katie Tagliavia, and Krystyna Westfield. Everyone involved worked together seamlessly, getting right into the hard work of digging, hauling, and planting. The energy and cooperation made the two days fly by and showed what can happen when people care about the land.

The leader of this project, Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT), is a non-profit land trust dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of native prairies, savannas, and other grasslands in Texas. Since 1986, they’ve been working to save and steward these special places in Texas. Today, NPAT protects 6,543 acres across the state, ensuring these landscapes remain a haven for diverse wildlife, pollinators, and native plants. TMN member Marvelyn Granger also happens to be president of the Fayette Prairie Chapter of NPAT, which monitors all five of the TMN Gideon Lincecum chapter’s counties (plus six additional surrounding counties).

We were lucky to have Dr. Lynn Loomis out there with our group for both days of the gamagrass rescue. A longtime soils scientist with deep roots in Texas land management and native plant ecology, Lynn was full of insights about gamagrass and the soils it loves, but what really stood out was how hands-on he was. He jumped right in with everyone else, digging, hauling, and replanting, all while happily sharing knowledge and encouragement along the way. A published scientist and award-winning educator, Lynn spent much of his career teaching at Sul Ross State University and brings over 30 years of ecological and soils expertise from his work with USDA-NRCS in the Big Bend region, along with his current work in rangeland restoration across Far West Texas.

If you’re new to Texas Master Naturalists, you might be wondering why this rescue and rehoming project was so important. A large portion of the central United States was once covered in huge swaths of prairie. Unfortunately, due to agriculture production and some urbanization, less than 1% now remains of the original native prairies, making them one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world.

Gamagrass is a resilient native prairie species with a broad range across much of the central and eastern United States, extending into Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. Its deep roots help it survive drought, improve soil structure, and reduce erosion, allowing it to thrive in challenging environments like streambanks, bottomlands, wet prairies, and rocky sites. Gamagrass also provides valuable habitat and seed for ground-nesting and game birds, and it’s a favorite forage for cattle, often affectionately called “cattle ice cream” because it’s usually the first grass grazed.

Projects like this gamagrass rescue show how much impact a small group of committed people can have when they act quickly and work together. By saving plants that would have been lost and giving them a new home at Elder Prairie, TMN and NPAT members helped protect not just a species, but the living connections between soil, water, wildlife, and people that define our native prairies. In a state where so little prairie remains, efforts like these matter, and they remind us that conservation doesn’t always happen on a grand scale; sometimes, it happens bucket by bucket, plant by plant, with dirty hands and a shared commitment to caring for the land. To learn more about NPAT and find out about future projects like this one, visit https://texasprairie.org/

Participants discuss plan for gamagrass removal. Photo by Marvelyn Granger

Participants begin digging out gamagrass. Photo by Marvelyn Granger

Participants digging up gamagrass along I-10. Photo by Marvelyn Granger

Members Wanda Anglin and Krystyna Westfield take a break from harvesting gamagrass along I-10 on February 3, 2026. Photo from Krystyna Westfield

Buckets full of harvested gamagrass rhizomes begin to fill transportation vehicle. This truck was completely double stacked by the end of the day. Photo by Wanda Anglin

One half of the gamagrass harvesting team. Photo by Wanda Anglin

Participants rehome gamagrass in Elder Prairie Preserve. Photo by Krystyna Westfield

Participants rehome gamagrass in Elder Prairie Preserve. Photo by Krystyna Westfield

Rehoming crew at Elder Prairie Preserve after a day of planting gamagrass. Photo by Marvelyn Granger.