Wild Wonderings

Time to Clean Purple Martin Houses!

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Arriving Soon...Time to Clean Purple Martin Houses

Make sure you write, "clean the purple martin house" on your task list and then actually do it! It won't be long before scouts show up looking for suitable housing. Two years ago, scouts showed up on Valentines Day in College Station, TX. Last year they were a week later perhaps because of the colder winter. Either way, it is time to knock out this annual task.

I plan for the kids do this chore this coming weekend. I get out of the work and they have investment in the conservation of a very cool bird. Now that it is good parenting!

For the past several years, my yard has served as the nesting grounds for a dozen purple martins. Our family enjoys seeing martins go through the process of raising their broods. It is tough to determine, but it looks as if they are able to re-nest twice and sometimes thrice.

My wife says the martins wake up far too early and visit among themselves much to loudly, especially on weekends made for sleeping a bit longer. I tell her they are planning the day, which ends with many insects ingested during their aerial acrobatic show. I point out that there will be fewer insects to cause her grief and she is okay with that for about 7 days when they wake her once more.

Weigh the options yourself. Clean out the purple martin house now, or swat more insects later!

Feral Hog Management Workshop Feb. 14 in Luling

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Assistant) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:46:00 +0000

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service, in cooperation with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, will host a Feral Hog Management Workshop on February 14, 2012 at the Luling Civic Center in Luling. Registration for the event starts at 8:00 a.m. Five Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator continuing education units will be offered at the program (2 General, 2 IPM and 1 Laws and Regulations).

Texas has one of the largest feral hog populations of any state, and AgriLife Extension has estimated that the destructive habits of hogs cause about $52 million in damages annually to Texas farms, ranches and the agricultural industry. Feral hogs are also significant contributors of pollutants to creeks and rivers across the state.

As feral hogs congregate around water sources to drink and wallow, their fecal matter is deposited directly in streams, adding bacteria and nutrients to the water bodies. Extensive rooting by groups of feral hogs causes extreme erosion and soil loss.

Landowners and other stakeholders in the Plum Creek watershed have identified feral hogs as a contributor to elevated bacteria levels in the creek. Through the Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan, landowners have identified management and control of this invasive species as a priority mechanism to restore and protect water quality in Plum Creek.

Topics at the workshop will be: Basic Biology of Feral Swine, Feral Hogs in the Plum Creek Watershed, Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan Implementation, Population Dynamics, Update on Feral Hog Research, Laws and Regulations for Hunting Feral Hogs, Agricultural Regulations Regarding Feral Hogs, Feral Hog Control, and Feral Hog Safety and Disease Concerns.

Information about controlling feral hogs is available at both of these websites:

pcwp.tamu.edu/feralhogs

http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/

PLEASE pre-register with the Caldwell County Extension Office by February 10th to ensure an accurate count for the meal and handouts. Registration is FREE and includes lunch, refreshments, and handout materials. Individuals with disabilities should contact the Extension office at least two days prior to the event so accommodations can be made. For more information or to pre-register contact the Caldwell County Extension office at 1403 Blackjack St., Ste. B in Lockhart, (512)398-3122 or at caldwell@ag.tamu.edu.

This event is free of charge through a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Assessing Pine and Shade Tree Damage From Drought

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Many landowners are probably asking "Will my tree make it?" after this year's brutal drought, the driest and second hottest on record. In addition to the tree identification guide mentioned in the last post, the Texas Forest Service recently came out with an easy way of determining whether your shade trees either went into dormancy early or are on their way out (of course this doesn't matter right now since we are in the middle of winter, but something to keep in mind for the future).

They suggest grouping your trees into 3 different categories: Definitely Dead, Likely to Live, or Questionable

Pine trees are easier to assess than shade trees because a normally thick, green crown is replaced by red or brown needles indicating stress or mortality. Shade trees, such as oaks and hickories, may be more difficult since they can drop their leaves early and go into dormancy as an act of self preservation.

For a thorough description of the categories to see where your trees are, go to the Texas Forest Service website.

Also available from the Texas Forest Service is a video explaining easy tips of how to water your trees during drought.

Selecting Trees for Your Property--Texas Style

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:44:00 +0000

This year Texas is experiencing record drought conditions, which have taken a sharp toll on our natural resources. As a result, many landowners and homeowners across the state have lost numerous trees. The positive effects of trees in nature are well known. Aside from their natural beauty, trees provide a host of services, ranging from oxygen production to wildlife browse. As an integral part of the ecosystem their value cannot be understated.

As people prepare to replace trees lost to drought, there may be confusion in exactly what to plant. Every individual has a different set of needs and desires for the trees on their property. Thanks to the Texas Forest Service, there is an easy selection tool to identify the best tree for your location and needs: the Texas Forest Service’s Texas Tree Planting Guide. Two methods are available, based on desired selection complexity:

· Express: Simply provide your county, and the desired size at maturity. A list of matching trees will be provided.

and

· Custom: Select your tree according a number of selection criteria, from county and size, to leaf type, wildlife value, and flowering type. You may also choose based on how much free space you have for your tree, and soil composition. These added choices help ensure the best match of tree to area, which encourages a healthier tree with better chances of survival.

In addition to the selector tool, the Texas Forest Service provides Tree Planting Tools to assist individuals with the proper techniques of tree maintenance and care. These guides cover a variety of topics, from planting and pruning techniques, to how to select a tree from the nursery and planning planting spaces.

Photo Courtesy of Texas State University:
http://txstateu.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/p11-252-10798-cr2.jpg

Why Native Grasses?

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Photo Courtesy Dr. James Cathey, Texas AgriLife Extension Service

In recent years there have been an increasing number of incentives available to Texas landowners for planting native, warm-season grasses Little and Big Bluestem, Sideoats Grama, and Indian Switchgrass) and restoring native prairies. The question from many folks is quite simple: why? This is certainly a fair question: why should a person destroy field of good, strong sod-forming grass like Bermuda Grass to plant other types of grasses? Simply put, not all grasses are created equal. There are a number of advantages to native, warm-season grasses. Some of these are especially important to watersheds, such as the Trinity River Basin, where the landowner-led Trinity Waters group is spearheading conservation efforts.

Advantages of native, warm-season grasses include:

· Improved habitat for game and non-game species of wildlife, such as ground nesting birds like quail, turkey, and eastern meadowlarks. These birds utilize the space between grass bunches to forage for seeds and often nest within the bunches. In these open spaces, forbs (weeds) also grow which animals, such as deer, consume.

· Healthy, ample, protein forage for livestock with reduced input costs as compared with exotic grasses.

· Improve water quality: These grasses help protect the watersheds they occur in by using less water than sod-forming types, reduces erosion and sedimentation of water systems, and improve water quality in general by not requiring fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.

· Conserving Texas’ landscape heritage. When settlers first arrived in Texas the landscape consisted of native grass prairies. These early settlers were influenced as much by the natural beauty of the landscape. Now, common sights, sounds, and smells that represent “Texas” to many Texans are disappearing. Planting native grasses in place of sod-forming grasses helps protect that rich heritage for future generations.

For more information, see this very informative article by the Native Prairies Association of Texas, and TPWD’s Native Grassland Restoration Guide or for information on getting started or incentive programs contact your local Texas AgriLife Extension Service County Extension Agent, TPWD Wildlife Biologist, and/or biologists at the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The Trinity River Information Management System Got An Upgrade

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:50:00 +0000

The Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) recently upgraded the Trinity River Information Management System (TRIMS) and launched the new version to the public. TRIMS is an online mapping tool that provides free data access to users for a variety of purposes. These purposes could be as simple as measuring acreage and/or fencelines for better land management, or as complex as conservation planning for regional coordinators.

Multiple data layers exist in TRIMS with the most up to date information available. Data that can be accessed include soil types, hydrology, elevation, and land cover within the counties comprising the Trinity River Basin. TRIMS is a great tool for anybody owning land within the Trinity Basin. Ranchers and farmers will appreciate TRIMS for the simple measuring tools and other information, such as soil types, that allow them to enhance agricultural production on their land. For those interested in managing for wildlife or combining agricultural practices with wildlife activities, this information together allows land managers the opportunity to examine areas on their land that can be restored wildlife habitat such as native grasslands, wetlands, and bottomland hardwoods.

A simple interface makes it easy for regular folks to use and provides another tool in their belt for better land management. For a more thorough discussion of TRIMS, read the "Habitat Restoration in the Middle Trinity River Basin" extension publication that can be found on the Trinity Waters home page.

Possible Weed Importation

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:48:00 +0000

With the drought forcing many people to import hay from out of state there is an increased possibility of importing weeds with that hay. Many of these weeds could cause problems, but here are three you may really want to keep an eye out for; diffuse and spotted knapweeds (Centaurea diffusa and Centaurea stoebe), and leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). These weeds have not been found in Texas yet but are very invasive in several surrounding states. Knapweeds look similar to thistles. Spurge has a milky sap and showy yellow flower bracts. These plants, once established exude chemicals in the soil that inhibit the growth of favorable forage plants.They are intense competitors for water and can quickly crowd out native and desirable forage plants. Here are a few ideas on how to keep the risk of importing weeds at a relatively low level; check hay before you purchase or feed for weeds that you do not recognize, feed the hay in a confined area to control weed spread, and/or monitor your pastures for weeds that you do not recognize. Remember also that seeds from these weeds can lay dormant in the soil for several years, so continued monitoring is crucial. Control options for these weeds include most chemicals of the 2,4-D type, sheep or goats, prescribed burns, and bio-control with insects that are specific pests to these weeds. For more information you can visit the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. Continue to be on the lookout for these potentially noxious weeds and others as you purchase hay from surrounding states for your livestock.

Excluding Feral Hogs from Wildlife Feeders

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Assistant) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Feral hogs create many problems for land managers, one of which is consuming supplemental feed intended for wildlife. To restrict feral hogs from feeders exclusion fences can be constructed that still allow wildlife access to feed. This article titled "Excluding Feral Hogs from Wildlife Feeding Stations" created by several of my colleagues and me presents research conducted on exclusion fences by the United States Department of Agriculture and Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Conclusions on fence heights and efficiency are provided, as well as instructions for constructing a feral hog exclusion fence around a wildlife feeder. This article can be viewed below or at the Texas AgriLife Bookstore website.

Using Fences to Exclude Feral Hogs from Wildlife Feeding Stations

Legal Buck Sizes

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Fall is here and hunting season is starting up. We thought that some of you may want a reminder on just how many deer you can kill, and what size bucks are legal to harvest. In Texas, the maximum number of white tailed deer you may harvest in a year is five. No more than three of those deer may be bucks. For mule deer, the hunter is only allowed to take two deer in a license year. One of those deer may be a buck. These are the general laws for the state of Texas. However, the laws for your county may be different.
Also, in certain counties there are antler restrictions. In these counties,the limit is two legal bucks but only one of the bucks may have an inside spread that is 13 inches or greater. A legal buck, by definition will have a hardened antler protruding through the skin and at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread measurement between the main beams of 13 inches or more. If you would like to view this information for yourself, or would like to see the specific bag limits for your county visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Good luck and happy hunting!

La Nina is Back

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:24:00 +0000

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is reporting that La Nina, which contributed to extreme weather in the beginning of 2011 is back. NOAA recorded the re-emergence of La Nina and are predicting that it will strengthen and continue into the winter months. La Nina is basically a period of strong trade winds that increases cold up-welling currents off the western coast of South America. So what does this mean for those of us who live in Texas? This event occurs in South America. How could it possibly effect us? La Nina is actually a huge factor in global weather. La Nina causes heavy rainfall in the tropics, drought in the north-temperate regions, and it increases hurricane activity in the North Atlantic. This means that we will be seeing more drought in the coming months, and a potentially large hurricane season.

Landowners and conservation advocates participate in riparian workshop in Trinity River Basin

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Recently, landowners and representatives from Trinity Waters, Sand County Foundation, NRCS, TPWD, and Texas AgriLife Extension Service took part in a riparian management workshop in the Mill Creek watershed in Navarro County. Participants learned the benefits of healthy riparian areas (which are the areas along creeks and rivers that possess vegetation highly influenced by water from said creek or river) to the ecosystem, water resources improvement, wildlife populations, and humans.

To learn more, read this short news release from AgriLife Today.

Hays County Feral Hog Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Assistant) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:55:00 +0000

On Thursday, October 20th from 6:30-8:30 PM the Hays County Extension Office in San Marcos there will host a Feral Hog Workshop. Topics to be covered will be the history and biology of feral hogs, as well as damage problems, legal control options, and laws and regulations governing feral hogs. The presenters will be Jared Timmons, Extension Assistant; Jacob Hetzel, Wildlife Services; and Richard Parrish, County Extension Agent. Two CEUs will be offered, 1/2 hour of laws and regulations and 1 1/2 hour general. Please register by October 18th for $10 or $15 at the door. Registration and more information is available from the Hays County Extension Office at:
1253 Civic Center Loop
San Marcos, Texas 78666
(512) 393-2120

More than $150 million goes up in smoke this year in agriculture

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:40:00 +0000

The Riley Road fire that started in early September 2011 left tens of thousands of forested acres burned. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Kathleen Phillips)

Over 95% of Texas suffers from severe or exceptional drought, and other states such as Oklahoma and Louisiana have been suffering as well. The record drought is to blame for the record wildfire season. Since January, Texas agriculture has seen more than $150 million in agricultural losses due to wildfire, and experts say those figures are expected to continue to roll upward like the smoke pillars that dot the blackened landscape.

To read more about the damage so far, read this AgriLife Today news release.

The truth behind hunting and fishing licenses

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:41:00 +0000

As Texas hunters and anglers recently purchased new hunting/fishing licenses, many question the use or misuse of that money by the Texas Legislature. Some believe that they use funds derived from license sales to fund other state programs. Shannon Tompkins of the Houston Chronicle recently wrote an article that explains what exactly the Legislature does with those funds. Maybe a better way to put it is not what they do with it, but rather what they don't do with it.

To read the full story, visit the Houston Chronicle website.

AgriLife Extension land steward programs to focus on Trinity River Basin

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:41:00 +0000

To see this news release, visit the AgriLife Today website.

Free workshops for landowners will be held November 21 in Kaufman and November 22 in Huntsville. Topics to be discussed include developing partnerships to better conserve our natural resources for wildlife and water conservation, ongoing projects within the Trinity River Basin, financial assistance opportunities, wetland and wildlife management, and training for the new TRIMS online mapping tool. TRIMS was designed with the landowner in mind as this free online tool helps in conservation planning activities and pasture management by providing recent aerial photography, the ability to measure parcels of land, as well as soil, elevation, and hydrology data.

To sign up, visit trinitwaters.org under the "Events" page.

Range Management Strategies for the Drought

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Blair Fannin recently published an article in Texas A&M's web-page, AgriLife Today. In the article she quotes Dr. Larry Redmon as he discusses different strategies to increase cattle production in spite of the current drought. Dr. Redmon is a Texas AgriLife Extension Service state forage specialist who shared these strategies and more at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course recently in College Station:

Having a written plan. “You can not manage what you do not measure,” Redmon said. “Keep good records of your stocking rates and your operation overall. It doesn’t do any good to have a plan if you don’t have records. We look back and see if we’ve made progress. If we haven’t made any progress, then what does that tell us about our plan? It may need to be tweaked or modified a little.”

Don’t guess when it comes to evaluating forages for protein content. Redmon suggests having hay tested for nutritive value. “Overestimating your hay’s nutritive value can severely effect animal performance. Underestimating your hay’s nutritive value can lead to excess supplementation costs.”

Redmon also said that your grandfather’s cows that weighed 800 pounds aren’t today’s cattle, in which case many weigh 1,200 pounds. Redmon recommends adjusting your stocking rates to your current cattle and breed characteristics.

Rolling Plains Research Ranch's 4th Annual Field Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:39:00 +0000

(Rolling Plains Quail graphic courtesy of Rolling Plains Research Ranch.)

The Rolling Plains Research Ranch will be hosting it's fourth annual Field Day on Friday September 30, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The theme is Bobwhite vs. La Nina: Quail Management During the Drought. There will be a plant ID quiz and stops on the tour to discuss water harvesting strategies, patch-burn grazing during drought, supplemental feeding and water, quail management on CRP, and many other topics that fall under these categories.CEU certificated will be distributed at the end of the tour.The registration cost is $15 per person before September 25, and $20 after that. Including registering at the door. Your registration cost includes a catered lunch, refreshments, and handout materials. You can find registration and Field Day information on Rolling Plains Research Ranch's website.

Myths About Feral Hogs Debunked

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:43:00 +0000

Around 134 million acres, or 79 percent of the state total of 170 million acres, is feral hog habitat. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service graphic courtesy of the Texas A&M University Institute for Renewable Natural Resources)

Dr. Roel Lopez, associate director of the Texas A&M University Institute for Renewable Natural Resources, and Dr. Billy Higginbotham, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist recently completed a study on the actual population numbers of feral hogs in Texas. They concluded that there are actually somewhere between 1.9 and 3.4 million hogs across Texas. Dr.Lopez and Dr. Higginbotham also shed light on several other myths about feral hogs. These myths discuss the topics of population growth, control strategies, and identification by color markings alone. Want a more in depth account of this study? There is an article on Texas A&M's AgriLife Today website with more details about these myths and their answers.

AgriLife Extension offers wildfire recovery advice

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:40:00 +0000

For original story and images of wildfire damage across the state, visit the AgriLife Today website.

COLLEGE STATION – As hundreds of homes have been completely destroyed in recent wildfires and many more sustained smoke damage, Texas AgriLife Extension Service is trying to help homeowners address “What next?”

AgriLife Extension provides Texans and others with free, objective, research-based information to help with emergency and disaster preparation and recovery, according to Dr. Joyce Cavanagh, AgriLife Extension family economics specialist in College Station. The information is available through two websites and through agency personnel in county offices throughout the state.

The Texas Extension Disaster Education Network, or Texas EDEN, at http://texashelp.tamu.edu contains information and materials relating to specific disasters, such as the recent wildfires and information on disaster preparation and recovery.The AgriLife Bookstore website at http://agrilifebookstore.org contains a variety of emergency and disaster-related topics, including general preparedness, first aid, home, property and financial recovery. Replacing Personal Documents After a Disaster and How to Remove Smoke Smell from a Home are examples of the links and information that can be found on the site.

Most materials can be downloaded and printed free of charge, and several are also available in Spanish.

Cavanagh said a number of safety issues also arise when returning to a home or business after a disaster, including possible structural damage, damage to electrical wires or gas lines, and the risk of contaminated water.

“After surviving a disaster, people should also be aware of the new dangers that crop up and take the necessary safety measures to ensure they survive the recovery phase too,” she said.

“As people return to their homes, their primary concern should be for their own safety and that of other family members,” Cavanagh said. “Listen to the authorities in the affected area and do not return home until they say it’s safe to do so.”

Once it’s safe to return, she said, bring supplies and wear clothing that will help sustain personal health and safety. She suggested taking a multi-use fire extinguisher, plenty of bottled water and a first-aid kit, and wear sturdy shoes with thick, preferably non-rubber soles, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and work gloves.

“Those with property damage need to contact their insurance company, take photos of the damage and begin an inventory of damaged personal possessions for insurance purposes, then they can make temporary repairs to prevent further damage,” Cavanagh said. “Retain receipts for any supplies purchased for temporary repairs, as some or all of these costs may be reimbursed by homeowners insurance.”

She added that during the recovery process, it’s also a good idea to keep a ‘communications log’ of any conversations with the insurance company, local authorities and contractors or others providing home repairs in order to keep track of expected repair dates, estimated costs and specific actions to be taken or work to be done.

Cavanagh said the Texas Department of Insurance has offered guidance regarding insurance claims to Texans affected by wildfires. That information can be found at: http://www.tdi.texas.gov/news/2011/news201130.html.

Restoration Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:16:00 +0000

Invasive plant and animal species, urbanization, overgrazing, erosion, and other poor land management activities have led to many areas becoming degraded and losing their natural function in the land. Such functions, also known as ecosystem services, include wildlife habitat, water filtration and storage, air pollution reduction, and others. Recently, there has been a major emphasis among wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists to restore these degraded areas to return them to their former state. Such projects could include native grassland and wetland restoration, riparian buffers, stream and bottomland hardwood restoration, brush management, and others. Some basic information is provided that you can use before starting your restoration project, and native grassland restoration will be used as an example.

Before starting a restoration project, it is important to assess the condition of the land by making a few observations or collecting some data, and then to establish goals and measureable indicators for monitoring that will be used to evaluate project success. Extension Agents within each county and Wildlife Biologists in the area are a valuable resource to utilize as they have expertise to assist you, and for more information you can visit the Trinity Waters website or the AgriLife Bookstore to obtain publications that relate to wildlife habitat management and population techniques, and other topics such as habitat restoration or watershed protection. One such publication is "Habitat Monitoring for Quail on Texas Rangelands," which provides data sheets and other information for monitoring grasslands primarily managed for quail.

Assessing the condition of the land means determining the extent of unwanted vegetation, or designating areas that may not be ideal for grassland restoration, such as a forest. This can be done by making simple observations as to which species are present and/or collecting vegetative cover data. Depending on the condition of the land, a combination of various restoration techniques and the order in which they are implemented may differ. For example, an area dominated exclusively by Bermuda grass or Bahia grass will require more intensive restoration than would a grassland with a mix of native and exotic grasses.

Establishing goals is vital to a successful restoration because there are many reasons for restoring native grassland, such as creating habitat for quail and other native grassland birds, providing sustainable forage for livestock, or to improve water quality. Goals should be established after the land assessment in order to set realistic goals that reflect the condition of the land and include the desired management objective of the land. Extension Agents and Wildlife Biologists can work with you to develop these goals to best suit your situation. Establishing goals will help in knowing which different activities need to be accomplished and identifying what tools (seed mix, prescribed burning crew, no-till drill, etc.) will be needed for the project. Some activities, such as applying herbicide, burning, and seed planting, should only be conducted during certain times of the year, and if a combination of restoration activities need to be conducted, the sequence in which they are done is vital. Scheduling these activities at the appropriate time of year and the proper order will ensure the restoration to be as successful as possible.

Measureable indicators used during the monitoring phase help to evaluate the project and determine if more work needs to be done, such as applying another round of herbicide. These indicators can be as simple or detailed as time and budget allow. Simple observations can be made to see if native grasses are more abundant than exotic and if native wildlife species, such as grassland birds, are more numerous than before. Photo points can be set up at a certain spot by placing a stake and by taking periodic photos and detailed notes, land managers can see what changes have occurred on the landscape. More detailed data can also be obtained by collecting vegetative cover data, as discussed before.

For a more thorough discussion of restoration planning and design, read the Society for Ecological Restoration Primer on Ecological Restoration.

Currently, we are developing a publication that describes techniques for native grassland restoration in the Trinity River Basin, but there are also resources available at the Trinity Waters website. Also, if you are interested in wetland restoration, there are resources available at the same website.

Drought Increases Black Bear Concerns

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Wildlife Biologists are reminding hunters, ranchers, and rural residents that black bears appear to be roaming longer distances in search of suitable habitat because of the drought. This may cause more sightings of the rare animal. The black bear is a threatened species in Texas, making sightings unusual but exciting. Black bear are usually shy and not aggressive towards humans. They are omnivorous, meaning that they eat basically anything. Their diet consists mainly of plants with some protein coming mostly from insects and nuts. Texas Parks and Wildlife published an article giving some tips on what to do if you encounter a black bear or if you have a bear that continually comes around your home or ranch.

We Have A YouTube Channel

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:13:00 +0000

Some of you may be aware of our YouTube channel, but for those of you who aren't "in the know" we would love for you to check it out. We have several videos on topics ranging from feral hogs to quail counts. There are even how to videos on snaring and trapping feral hogs. Our videos are short, to the point, and very informative. I would encourage each of you to check out our site today!

A History of Cooperative Conservation within the Trinity Basin

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:05:00 +0000

Since 2000, landowners in the Trinity River Basin have been working together to promote conservation activities and joining with neighbors in this effort. The Governor’s 2006 announcement supporting the Trinity River Restoration Initiative brought attention to these efforts and led to support from numerous agencies and organizations. The Texas Wildlife Association became an official partner in 2007 and joined with Trinity Basin Conservation Foundation in the mission, planning activities, and operations of the two organizations. In June of 2011, the Trinity Basin Conservation Foundation was renamed Trinity Waters and Ken Klaveness was hired on as the new Executive Director in July of 2011.

Ongoing projects that are gaining ground as far as the number of those involved include the Western Navarro Bobwhite Restoration Initiative led by a TPWD biologist and the Sand County Foundation's Water As A Crop riparian management project, both located in Navarro County.

Since Blake Alldredge was hired as the Extension Associate charged with education and outreach in the Trinity River Basin on June 1, he and the Cooperative Conservation project team have had several accomplishments worth noting:

1. Developed a 1-pager to highlight the purpose of the Cooperative Conservation project and the role of Trinity Waters in the basin.

2. Worked with folks at the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources to develop the new Trinity Waters website which was launched July 18. We have had great success in pushing out this website, but more work needs to be done. Tell everyone you know!! There are resources in here for landowners who manage livestock and wildlife, those interested in water resources, educators, economics, habitat management, feral hog control, and more!

3. We have started planning educational programs for landowners explaining the purpose and plan of the Cooperative Conservation project as well as the role of Trinity Waters in the basin.

4. Blake began writing a publication with a Masters student in the Texas A&M wildlife department on native grassland restoration in the Trinity River Basin. This publication will explain how native grasslands are vital habitat to wildlife species such as quail and other grassland birds, and how it enhances water quality more than bermudagrass.

5. News release on my background and hiring as education and outreach coordinator for the Cooperative Conservation project.

6. News release on Sand County Foundation’s Water As A Crop project.

7. News release on the Trinity Waters website launch. This news release was sent to various agencies and organizations to place on their website in order to promote the website.

8. Trinity Waters Facebook and Twitter accounts are updated daily with new content to maximize social media impact. Visit our pages to "like" us or "follow" us!

There is alot more work to be done in the Trinity River Basin, but this provides a soild foundation to build upon as we increase involvement among neighbors to work together for conservation.

Feral Hogs and Water Quality in Plum Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Assistant) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:47:00 +0000

Feral hogs can impair water quality because of their behavior and physiology, as is the case in the Plum Creek Watershed. In order to improve water quality in the Plum Creek Watershed a watershed protection plan is being implemented. This publication titled "Feral Hogs and Water Quality in Plum Creek" explains the steps that are being taken in the Plum Creek Watershed to improve water quality. This publication can either be viewed below or at the Texas AgriLife Bookstore website.

Feral Hogs and Water Quality in Plum Creek

Feral Hogs and Disease Concerns

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Assistant) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Feral hogs are potential carriers of diseases that can be transmissible to humans, livestock, and wildlife. That is why my colleagues and I produced "Feral Hogs and Disease Concerns", this publication covers several disease that have been documented in feral hogs and precaution measures that should be taken when handling feral hogs and their meat. This publication can either be viewed below or at the Texas AgriLife Bookstore website.

Feral Hogs and Disease Concerns