Wild Wonderings

Urban Feral Hogs: Concern, Challenges and Control

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Tyson) — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:18:00 +0000

By:

Mark Tyson, Extension Associate, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Linda Tschirhart-Hejl, Wildlife Biologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Wildlife Services

Jared Timmons, Extension Associate, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Photos By:

Linda Tschirhart-Hejl, Jared Timmons & Dr. James Cathey

Urban wildlife is coming more into the spotlight these days thanks to a critter scientifically known as Sus scrofa, the feral hog. With a name like that one may think this creature is from another world, and actually that is quite true. Feral hogs can be traced back to the old world and are not native to North or South America. They were said to be introduced to the U.S. mainland in 1539 by Hernando De Soto when he landed off the coast of Florida. After occupying the mainland for the last 474 years feral hogs have been quite successful in expanding their populations in both rural and urban areas.

(Sus scrofa, the feral hog)

Urban areas are becoming more attractive to feral hogs. These areas provide all the necessities of life, food, water and shelter in a relatively small area of land. Energetically speaking it is much more efficient to find all of your needs in a relatively small area versus a one that is much more spaced out. Would most Texans rather dine at an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet or an establishment that serves its meal on a single plate? I’d place my bet on the buffet. Urban areas can act as a buffet for feral hogs considering the abundance of irrigated and fertilized lawns along with lush landscaping. These healthy lawns often have a high population of earthworms and grubs which are coveted by feral hogs for their protein content, not to mention the roots of the vegetation used in landscaping.

(Urban rooting damage from feral hogs)

The most common type of feral hog damage experienced by urban landowners is rooting; which is a feeding behavior that occurs when the hogs are searching for underground vegetation or insects. Rooting damage from a single hog can be rather extensive but most often feral hogs travel in extended family groups known as sounders thus multiplying the damage. While this damage is not very aesthetically pleasing it is also very expensive to repair! Often rooting damage is not a one-time event, it can take place over the course of several weeks or months depending on the abundance of the food source in the area.

(Urban flowerbed rooting damage)

Right now I bet your thinking so what can be done about this urban feral hog problem? Let’s dig deeper into feral hog population reduction strategies and see what we can “root” up! Reducing feral hog populations in urban areas comes with a much greater set of considerations than typically occur in rural situations. In Texas there are four legal means by which feral hog populations can be reduced. Those include shooting, trapping, snaring and the use of catch dogs. It is important to note that there are no legal toxicants (poisons) that can be used on feral hogs.

While all of the resources and population reduction strategies available to rural landowners are also available to urban property owners, typically local laws or regulations hinder some of these resources from being utilized. For example in most urban areas it is illegal to discharge a firearm, thus removing the option of shooting feral hogs from the list of legal population reduction techniques. The use of catch dogs and snaring also can pose specific risks in urban settings that would most likely reduce their use. Some of the most effective urban non-lethal control methods such as exclusion fencing or electric fences are often not allowed in many areas due to homeowner’s association regulations or city ordinances. No chemical repellants are currently labeled to deter feral hogs and physical deterrents such as motion activated sprinklers or ultrasonic animal repellants which emit high pitched frequencies have not been evaluated or proven to deter feral hogs.

(Urban feral hog boar in a box trap)

(Feral hog piglets trapped in an urban area)

So what can you do? In most cases trapping can be an urban property owner’s only resource to reduce feral hog damage on their land. But even trapping brings forth several concerns, such as what to do with the feral hogs once they are trapped? One option that may be available to you is your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension-Wildlife Services Biologist and/or Technician, who can provide technical assistance and in some cases direct control of feral hogs. To locate an office nearest you please visit their web site at http://agrilife.org/txwildlifeservices/ . Many cities already have animal control officers, and some are tasked with trapping and removing feral hogs. You can contact your city officials to determine if animal control is trapping feral hogs. In some cases professional hog trappers that have the proper equipment to handle and remove the animals in a safe manner have agreements with cities and homeowners associations in place. To determine if this is the case contact your local city officials or homeowners association.

In many cases of urban feral hog problems it may be only a few animals and the most effective way to prevent them from causing damage is to deny access to the area. Most feral hogs enter urban areas from greenbelts, creeks or bayous which are perfect travel corridors for them. In these cases a correctly constructed fence could solve the problem. One fence that works quite well at hog exclusion is a net wire fence that is constructed flush to the ground.

(Net wire fencing used for wildlife exclusion)

Now that you have an understanding of the complexity of the urban feral hog situation; where do you go from here? You can start by contacting your homeowners association or your local city representative and expressing your concern about feral hogs and the limited resources available for removing them. If fencing is not allowed in your area then this would also be a great place to start in having laws or regulations prohibiting fencing reconsidered. Another way to become part of the bigger picture is to submit a public report of feral hog activity on our newly created feral hog reporting website which can be found at http://feralhogreports.tamu.edu/. Your reports will remain confidential and help us to locate areas of high feral hog activity. The information will also serve to guide both management and educational efforts with the goal of reducing the impacts of feral hogs in Texas. Other resources such as watershed-based feral hog educational presentations and technical assistance for landowners are available through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. These resources are provided free of charge and can provide you with detailed information on feral hogs and on the ground assistance with population reduction resources.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service currently has two Extension Associates available to provide watershed-based educational presentation on feral hogs. These presentations serve to increase citizen's awareness of feral hogs and their impacts to our watersheds. Technical assistance in creating a feral hog population reduction strategy specific to your property is also available to landowners through this program. For more information on these resources you can contact Mark Tyson (979) 845-4698 or Jared Timmons (254) 485-4886.

Land Management Resources for New Landowners

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Cathey, Ph.D., Extension Wildlife Specialist) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:12:00 +0000

Recently, a new landowner contacted me, having questions about native grassland restoration, bobwhite management, and techniques to reduce feral hogs. I thought our correspondence might be helpful to others in their search for land management resources.

Hello Mr. XXXX,

I want to provide you with several resources for native grassland restoration and, feral hog and quail management. Perhaps this note will help save you time in your hunt for resources.

Native Grassland Restoration and Monitoring:

You will find 2 attached publications that will be helpful, 1) Native Grassland Restoration in the Middle Trinity River Basin [released this week] and 2) Habitat Restoration in the Middle Trinity River Basin.

Also, find 3 videos on our WFSC AgriLife YouTube Channel that will be helpful (Available Resources for Landowners, Rangeland Measurement Techniques, Rangeland Monitoring Techniques. Keep watching our YouTube Channel, as we have new videos describing implements and their uses in wildlife food plots, coming soon.

Look to see how Trinity Waters, a group of landowners to the south of you, mix row crop, livestock, water, and wildlife management. My shop has helped this group gain its organizational capacity of the last few years. We help relay land management information.

· Trinity Waters website – good background on this group of landowners; resource library; calendar showing many of our seminars and more

· Trinity Waters Facebook – another way to let the world know about our work

· Trinity Waters Twitter - timely notices about land and water management

· Trinity Waters Scoop.it – we search the web and present resources that will be an interest to you (looks like a newspaper or newsletter)

Bobwhite:

· You will find 1 publication, Habitat Monitoring for Quail on Texas Rangelands. You may also search the AgriLife Bookstore for subjects (bobwhite, quail, etc.) Publications are often low cost or free.

· Look to our WFSC AgriLife YouTube Channel again for many videos on quail management done by my colleague Dr. Dale Rollins (search the bookstore by his name also).

· Look to TEXNAT for key quail plants and much more.

· Team quail many good resources

Feral Hogs:

· See the Feral Hog Community of Practice. I serve as the leader of this group that now involves 27 states and ~50 people contributing information (50+ articles, 100+ frequently asked questions and more) and our Feral Hog Facebook .

· You will also find 4 past feral hog webinars we did, which can be viewed at eXtension Learn

· See our Coping with Feral Hogs website done by my colleague Dr. Billy Higginbotham

· See our many feral hog videos (with more to come) WFSC AgriLife YouTube Channel

· We have lots of AgriLife Extension publications that will be useful to you in the fight against feral hogs (download from AgriLife Bookstore)

o Feral Hog Population Growth, Density, and Harvest in Texas. SP-472, Pp. 1-8.

o Lone star healthy streams: feral hog manual. B-6256, Pp. 1-40.

o Feral hogs negatively affect native plant communities. SP-467, Pp. 1-9.

o Using fences to exclude feral hogs from wildlife feeding stations. L-5533, Pp. 1-4.

o Recognizing Feral Hog Sign. L-5523 Pp. 1-4.

o Corral traps for capturing feral hogs. Publication L-5524Pp. 1-6.

o Box traps for capturing feral hogs. L-5525 Pp. 1-4.

o Placing and baiting feral hog traps. L-5526 Pp. 1-4.

o Door modifications for feral hog traps. L-5527 Pp.1-4.

o Snaring feral hogs. L-5528 Pp. 1-4.

o Making a feral hog snare. L-5529 Pp. 1-4.

o Feral hog transportation regulations SP-432 Pp. 1-2.

o Feral hogs and disease concerns SP-421 Pp. 1-2.

o Feral hogs impact ground-nesting birds SP-419 Pp. 1-2.

o Feral hog laws and regulations in Texas SP-420 Pp. 1-2.

o Feral hogs and water quality in Plum Creek SP-422 Pp 1-2.

In addition to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife have good resources for projects like yours. Give me a call if you have questions and of course see our work at Wild Wonderings Blog and of course our main page Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Unit.

The Five Footed Feral Hog

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Tyson) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:06:00 +0000

By: Kristen Tyson
Photos by: Tom Huckabee

Seeing double? That is what Tom Huckabee was asking himself while hunting on his lease near Dayton, Texas. Tom and his hunting buddy expected that day last year to be like any other hog hunting expedition when to his surprise the hog of the day had two feet on her right front leg. To say the least, Tom was surprised by such a discovery and curious at the same time.

(Feral hog leg with two feet.)

After performing a thorough search online and scouring in-print resources there was no information to be gleaned about this sort of mutation on feral swine. If such a rare mutation has occurred, it was not reported. A more common deformity of swine is a condition known as syndactylism, or mule-foot. According to an Extension.org article, “This occurs when the toe bones are fused into a single structure, giving the appearance of a single, central-toed hoof.” Despite the fact that this condition has been noted since around 350 BC, mule-foot is still a rare find in the wild.

(Front view of feral hog leg containing two feet)

What causes these genetic abnormalities adds to the mystery. It seems that even domestic pigs are graced with similar deformities that include an absence of all limbs, an absence of toes, and like their free-ranging relatives, unequal toes. These abnormalities can be attributed to a dominant gene or simply hereditary traits.

So the next time you find yourself following those hog tracks, take note of any distinct prints marking your land. You just might find yourself in possession of a three-footed wild hog!

(Bottom view of feral hog leg containing two feet)

Range and wildlife management field days set for May in Brown, Kerr counties

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Black-capped Vireo male

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and other state and federal organizations will be hosting a pair of workshops that will focus on brush control and how it enhances endangered species habitat, in addition to livestock production and game species.

Landowners who have Golden-Cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo habitat on their property are encouraged to attend the workshop. Brush management is essential in providing sufficient habitat for these endangered species.

Some of the topics that will be addressed are:

· Threatened and endangered Texas species

· Grazing techniques

· Wildlife and brush management

Both field days will start with a morning classroom training followed by field training in the afternoon, and participants are advised to dress accordingly for the afternoon session.

The dates and locations of the workshops are as follows:

- May 29 at the Muse Wildlife Management Area located on County Road 478 about a mile and a half north of Farm to Market Road 1467 in northeastern Brown County.

- May 30 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area located at 2625 Farm to Market Road 1340 near Hunt.

Registration for each site will last from 7:45 – 8:15 a.m. followed by the programs which should conclude by 4:15 p.m. Both workshops will have the same basic outline but will be tailored to their specific area.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing educations units – one general, one integrated pest management and one laws and regulations – will be offered.

Individual preregistration is $15 five working days prior to each event and $25 thereafter. The fee includes lunch, refreshments and educational materials.

For more information and to preregister for the Brown County program, call the AgriLife Extension office in Brown County at 325-646-0386. For the Kerr County program, call the AgriLife Extension office in Kerr County at 830-257-6568. You can read the full news release from AgriLife Today.

This post was guest authored by Matt Wilkins ’14, Wildlife and Fisheries student at Texas A&M.

Riparian grazing workshop set for May 10 in Ennis

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:50:00 +0000

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is partnering with several other organizations to host a workshop focused on livestock grazing in riparian areas in the Trinity River basin. Since the majority of the Trinity River basin is used for cattle production, this workshop is geared towards cattle-producing landowners who have streams, creeks and rivers on their property.

The Trinity River provides water to 40% of Texas’ population. Therefore, good land stewardship is essential in the Trinity River basin. Good grazing management and practices can provide long- term land productivity and sustainability. In turn, these same practices also have positive effects on the quality and quantity of water for 40% of our state’s population. To address these issues, presenters will discuss a number of topics pertaining to riparian grazing management.

Topics that will be addressed are:

· Natural functions and flow patterns of streams.

· How vegetation in and along streams provides benefits.

· Erosion reduction and flood mitigation.

· Proper grazing management principles of riparian areas.

Participants will also visit two different sites to experience firsthand conservation practices and discuss management strategies that benefit both cattle production and riparian areas.

The workshop is on May 10^th at 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Cowboy Church of Ennis, 429 S.E. Interstate 45 Frontage Road, south of Ennis, Texas. It is on the east side of I-45 between the towns of Alma and Rice.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units (CEUs) will be offered – one general, one integrated pest management and one drift. Individual registration is $10 and includes a barbecue lunch. The workshop is limited to the first 100 registrants, so an RSVP is required.

For more information and to RSVP contact Blake Alldredge at balldredge@tamu.edu or 979-845-0916. Read the full news release from AgriLife Today.

This post was guest authored by Matt Wilkins ‘14, Wildlife and Fisheries student at Texas A&M.

New native grassland monitoring/management publication announced

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:19:00 +0000

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has a new publication available to help landowners monitor and manage the health of their native rangeland and pastures. The publication, "Native Grassland Monitoring and Management," is focused on landowners in the Trinity River basin, but techniques described are applicable across the state.

What is monitoring, exactly?

Monitoring specifically examines the plant species present and how much area they cover. Monitoring the ecological site condition, or health of the land, is necessary for landowners to evaluate how past land management decisions are affecting the plant, soil and water resources of the landscape. Being able to see how range conditions change over time, which is also known as range trend, will allow land managers to make the best management decisions as conditions change.

The main goal of the publication is to connect land monitoring and management techniques with proper watershed protection, because they are one and the same. Well-managed native grasslands and tame pastures are important to watershed protection as they increase the water storage capacity of the soil, reduce erosion, promote groundwater recharge and provide more efficient nutrient absorption. Landowners also benefit from increased forage production and quality wildlife habitat.

The monitoring techniques covered in the publication include photo points, grazing exclosures, nest and cover surveys, grass stubble height surveys and forage clipping surveys. Management techniques covered include chemical and mechanical treatments, prescribed burning, disking, shredding and grazing.

To order a hard copy, visit the AgriLife Bookstore, or view and download a pdf below. In addition, you can see these techniques demonstrated in our Rangeland Monitoring Techniques and Measurement Techniques videos on our YouTube channel.

Native Grassland Monitoring and Management by Jim Cathey

Chronic Wasting Disease in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:09:00 +0000

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose (collectively known as cervids) in North America. CWD is part of a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases. This disease was first recognized in captive mule deer populations in Colorado in the 1960's. Since then, monitoring efforts have been ramped up, especially in the last 10 years, as this disease has spread to multiple states and Canadian provinces.

CWD attacks the brain of infected animals and may be transmitted directly through saliva or feces to other animals or indirectly as prions can live on the soil surface that animals may then become infected by. The Trans Pecos area of far West Texas is the only part of Texas currently in the distribution of CWD (see map below).

In Texas, hunting is a $2.2 billion economic enterprise, and many landowners benefit economically from hunting activities on their property. In an effort to preserve the health of wildlife populations in west Texas and throughout the state, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) have an extensive surveillance program and cooperative management plan to address risks, develop management strategies, and protect captive and free-ranging cervid populations.

After discovering CWD for the first time ever in Texas during a strategic sampling effort in the summer of 2012, TPWD and TAHC established a Containment Zone and High Risk Zone to more aggressively control the spread of the disease (see map below). The state's CWD Management Plan calls for increased sampling and regulation changes that restrict permitted activities involving the capture, movement, or possession of susceptible cervid species in the CWD Zones. This past hunting season, CWD was detected in four additional mule deer that were harvested within the Containment Zone. To date, a total of six positives have been detected, which is 29% of the deer tested from the Hueco Mountain population.

How Do I Know if an Animal has CWD?

Some typical signs of CWD include:

Loss of bodily functions
Staggering or standing with very poor posture, including carrying their heads low and with a wide stance
Drinking large amounts of water
Excessive drooling
Emaciation (wasting)

*It is important to note that other diseases may have these same characteristics.*

What Can I Do?

As hunters and landowners, it is important to assist the state agencies that are combatting CWD by reporting any animals that exhibit these signs. It is recommended not to shoot, handle or consume any animal that exhibits these signs. For a complete list of recommendations for hunters, visit the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance website.

For more info, visit the following websites: Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Animal Health Commission, Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, and watch the video below.

This article was reviewed by Mitch Lockwood, Alan Cain, Shawn Gray, and Ryan Schoeneberg of Texas Parks and Wildlife for reviewing this article.

New Feral Hog Reporting Tool for Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Tyson) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:37:00 +0000

Feral hogs contribute to watershed pollution through wallowing and defecating in and around streams. This can increase E.coli bacteria, nutrients, and sedimentation in the water bodies. Feral hogs not only pose a problem for water quality in the state, they also compete with wildlife and livestock for habitat, harbor endemic and exotic diseases, and transmit parasites to domestic livestock and humans. Rooting, wallowing, and other behaviors of feral hogs also causes damage to agricultural and wildlife habitats.

(Feral hog rooting damage along the Brazos River)

Because of this, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has developed an online system to report feral hog activity which can be found at http://feralhogreports.tamu.edu/. This new online reporting tool was developed with two types of reporting methods.

One reporting method is the public report, which allows members of the public along with drivers passing by to report feral hog sightings and activity.

(Public feral hog reporting tool)

The other reporting method is the landowner report which will allow landowners to input information feral hog damage and financial loss, as well as provide data on the feral hog abatement efforts conducted on their property.

(Landowner feral hog reporting tool)

The new reporting system will be used to support the outreach efforts of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and those of various the watershed partnerships across the state. These watershed partnerships consist of landowners and citizens, city and county officials, and state and federal agencies working together to protect water quality.

Both public and landowner reporting of feral hog sightings and/or signs of damage will help locate areas of high activity and guide both management and educational efforts to reduce their impact to watersheds. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is requesting the assistance of members of the public, drivers and landowners across the state to help manage feral hogs by making use of the new reporting system. Individuals observing feral hogs or signs of possible damage by them are asked to make a report through the new website.

(Assisting a landowner in creating a feral hog trapping plan)

In addition to this new reporting tool, Jared Timmons and Mark Tyson have been hired as Extension Associates to help address the statewide feral hog problem. Both Timmons and Tyson will provide free technical assistance to landowners by conducting site visits to assist them in creating a feral hog management strategy specific to their property. They will also provide free watershed-based educational trainings to the public in order to increase their knowledge on feral hog biology, behavior and management options.

These resources are provided 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.

Timmons can be contacted at 254-485-4886 or jbtimmons@ag.tamu.edu and Tyson can be contacted at 979-845-4698 or mark.tyson@ag.tamu.edu.

For more information regarding feral hog management efforts, go to: http://plumcreek.tamu.edu/feralhogs/, http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/, or http://www.extension.org/feral_hogs. Or visit the Texas A&M AgriLife Bookstore at https://agrilifebookstore.org/.

Pre-baiting and Conditioning Feral Hogs for Trapping

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Tyson) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:01:00 +0000

So what is pre-baiting, how is it done and why is it so important when you are planning to trap feral hogs? Pre-baiting is the process of baiting a feral hog trapping area for a few days prior to commencing trapping operations. Pre-baiting serves to condition feral hogs to your trapping area and to accept it as a routine food source.

(A feral hog trapping site pre-baited with shelled corn)

Ideally you want to begin bating before your feral hog trap is ever in place. An easy way to accomplish this is to place a feeder filled with shelled corn dispensed by a programmable spin cast motor on the site. Program the feeder to go off at a specific time each morning or evening. A wide variety of other baits can be used but you must ensure that they are consistently available each day during a particular timeframe. The picture and video recording capabilities of game cameras make them a valuable tool in monitoring feral hog response to pre-baiting. These photographs and videos will also prove useful in helping you to determine the size and style of the trap that should be selected based on the number and size of the feral hogs visiting your bait site. You will know when the feral hogs are conditioned to your bait site by observing the game camera photos or videos captured over a period of several days. When feral hogs are conditioned to a bait site they will consistently visit the bait within a similar timeframe each day. You may even observe other behaviors such as feral hogs resting under your feeder. Once feral hogs are conditioned to your bait site the pre-bating process is complete you are ready to begin the trapping process. I will cover the trapping process in a future article.

(Feral hogs feeding on shelled corn at a future trapping site)

Pre-baiting is important because it will increase the efficiency of the trapping process. Since you have conditioned the feral hogs to associate your site as a food source, they will take less time to acclimate to entering your trap to access the bait. Although the pre-baiting process takes additional time and adds to the expense of trapping feral hogs it is worth the investment. Feral hogs are a highly intelligent species but they are driven to meet their daily caloric intake needs. Taking advantage of this by the use of a pre-bating process will help to tip the odds in your favor when you plan on trapping feral hogs.

(The end result of a pre-baited trap site)

Riparian Areas and Wild Pigs

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Tyson) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:51:00 +0000

(Healthy riparian area with lush early spring vegetation)

Riparian areas are found between upland areas and streams or rivers. They serve a vital role in the function of a healthy watershed. Riparian areas help to slow the flow of flood water which slows erosion and increases water infiltration. These areas also increase sediment and nutrient filtration along with protecting the stability of stream and river banks. The vegetation found in riparian areas is a major contributor of nutrients and energy into the aquatic community within the stream or river. The structure and diversity of plant species in riparian areas also provide excellent habitat for wildlife species.

(Wild pig cooling down along a stream bank)

Wild pigs are a highly destructive invasive exotic species which threaten the structure and function of riparian areas. These dense, low lying areas allow wild pigs to move through the habitat unseen in the thick vegetative cover. While using these riparian areas as travel corridors, wild pigs opportunistically feed on the roots and mast of the plants found within the area. Wild pigs consume mast such as acorns directly off the ground and access underground food items by rooting in the soil. Overtime these feeding strategies can cause a shift in the riparian plant community by inhibiting the reproduction of some native plant species and providing optimal conditions for exotic species to colonize within the disturbed soils. During the warmer months wild pigs wallow along the stream banks to help regulate their body temperature since they lack sweat glands. Wallowing by wild pigs affects bank stability along with increasing the amount of sediment within the surrounding water.

(Wild pig wallow along a stream bank)

Besides affecting the physical properties of riparian areas, wild pigs also alter the chemical and bacterial properties of the water found along the edge of riparian areas. Wild pigs serve as a non-point source of water pollution due to their fecal deposition in and around the water body. A variety of pollution sources including wild pigs have been cited as contributors to elevated bacteria levels in waters that have been listed as impaired by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Reducing wild pig populations would greatly benefit riparian areas across the state. Currently there are four legal methods for reducing wild pig populations in Texas. They include: trapping, shooting, snaring and the use of catch dogs. None of these methods are effective by themselves, but when used strategically in conjunction with one another they can be quite effective at reducing wild pig populations.

(Wild pigs captured in a corral trap)

If you would like to find out more about wild pigs or their management please feel free to contact Mark Tyson at mark.tyson@ag.tamu.edu (979) 845-4698 or Jared Timmons at jbtimmons@ag.tamu.edu (254) 485-4886. We would be happy to offer watershed-based educational trainings to your organization or group. We also offer site visits for landowners to assess wild pig damage and formulate a population reduction strategy specific to the property. These services are provided free of charge through a Clean Water Act §319(h) non-point source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

New videos showcase monitoring and measurement techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:08:00 +0000

Monitoring is necessary for landowners to evaluate how past land management decisions are affecting the plant, soil, and water resources of the landscape. Monitoring specifically examines the plant species present and how much area they cover. Being able to see how range conditions change over time, also known as range trend, will allow land managers to make the best management decisions as conditions change. Monitoring allows a landowner to detect problems early and adjust management practices to improve range condition. Monitoring is very important for the livestock and wildlife species that depend on the continued productivity of the land, as well as the economic sustainability for the landowner.

Many landowners may not know where to start when it comes to monitoring or feel that it takes too much time and is too complicated. Several monitoring and measurement techniques can be done quickly and easily by landowners to evaluate the condition of the wildlife habitat and grazinglands on their property. To help landowners, we have recently developed two videos that demonstrate these activities.

"Rangeland Monitoring Techniques for Livestock and Wildlife" discusses very simple ways to monitor what is happening on the land and what is causing changes. This video highlights the importance of maintaining precipitation records, photo points, and grazing exclosures.

"Rangeland Measurement Techniques for Livestock and Wildlife" demonstrates techniques to actually measure the quality of habitat or pasture condition at the present time. Nest clump surveys, cover surveys, grass stubble height surveys, and forage surveys are efficient techniques to provide the landowner with some basic data on habitat quality and forage production to affect land management decisions.

For a more thorough explanation of these techniques and examples of data sheets to get you started, read Extension publication "Habitat Monitoring for Quail on Texas Rangelands," and see numerous publications at the Ecosystem Science and Management Extension website.

QuailMasters class dates set

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:42:00 +0000

Participants perform an exercise that shows just how crucial it is to maintain all of the key components of quail habitat.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Dale Rollins

QuailMasters 2013

Are you an avid hunter of quail? Maybe you’re a landowner dedicated to this small bird’s cause, an agency biologist, or perhaps a college student simply seeking to increase your knowledge of quail information. Whatever your reason for coming, the folks putting on the QuailMasters workshop series would be glad to have you as long as you are serious about quail. Coordinator and instructor Dr. Dale Rollins will lead the series of four workshops, co-sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Wildlife Association. Rollins is one of our own, an AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist out of San Angelo. Helen Holdsworth, based out of San Antonio with the Texas Wildlife Association, will also join him in instruction. The sessions will focus on scaled quail and bobwhite. They will feature lectures, field trips, homework, and hands-on exercises.

Be warned, though very rewarding, the QuailMasters classes will be challenging. To quote Dr. Rollins, “Our goal is to make the students quail experts. We want graduates to come away from the series with the knowledge to speak comfortably on quail biology, ecology, technology and sociology. Students will see some of the best quail ranches in the nation and learn firsthand how proper management can enhance quail numbers.” In fact, for an additional charge you can receive three hours of graduate college credit through Texas A&M University’s wildlife and fisheries department.

Attendance is mandatory for all four meetings. The four sessions and their locations are; March 24-26 (Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch), May 5-7 (to be announced), July 7-9 (to be announced), and September 15-17 (Kingsville). The cost is $400 per individual; this includes several meals and educational support materials. However, space is limited to 35 participants, so sign up as quickly as you can.

For more information, contact Dr. Rollins at 325-653-4576, d-rollins@tamu.edu or Holdsworth at hholdsworth@texas-wildlife.org . Online registration is available at http://www.texas-wildlife.org/resources/events/quailmasters-2013-session-i

Also, if you would like to view the original article by Steve Byrns on AgriLife Today you may do so at http://today.agrilife.org

Third round of Trinity River workshops to focus on cattle and feral hogs

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:51:00 +0000

Trinity Waters and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are hosting a third round of educational workshops in the Trinity River basin. The focus of these workshops will be on beef cattle production and feral hog control so producers can improve profitability, reduce hog damage and benefit area water resources.

Texas has suffered from a multi-year drought that has caused many difficulties for cattle producers throughout the state, but at the same time feral hogs continue to increase along with the damage they cause. This damage inflicts even more pain to cattle producers as hogs can root up pastures as part of the $52 million in damages to the agriculture industry in Texas annually.

To address these issues, an AgriLife Extension expert will discuss drought management strategies for cattle management, as well as techniques that can benefit a producers pocketbook in addition to improving the water resources of the area through the Lone Star Healthy Streams program. Another expert will discuss control techniques for feral hogs and the laws and regulations that dictate these activities in the state. They will also discuss how landowners can turn feral hogs into money by trapping and selling hogs to approved holding facilities.

These workshops are free and open to the public. Two hours of CEUs - 1.5 general, 0.5 laws and regs - will be available to participants.

The workshops will take place at the f ollowing dates, times and locations:
Feb. 27 f rom 1-5 p.m., Navarro County Expo Center, 4021 W. Highway 22, Corsicana.
March 27 f rom 1-5 p.m., Walker County Extension Of f ice, 102 Tam Road Suite B, Huntsville.
April 3 f rom 1-5 p.m., Texas Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Center, 5301 County Road 4812, Athens.

To RSVP for one of the workshops, contact Extension Associate Blake Alldredge at 979-845-0916 or balldredge@tamu.edu, or go to http://nrt.tamu.edu/schedule and search for “Cooperative Conservation in the Trinity River Basin.”

Read more in the news release from AgriLife Today.

Video Showcases Wildlife Management Resources for New Landowners

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Cathey, Ph.D., Extension Wildlife Specialist) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:54:00 +0000

Extension Associate, Blake Alldredge, released a new video on our WFSC AgriLife Extension YouTube Channel called, “Available Resources for Landowners in Texas”. In the course of this 22 min video, Blake provided a quick description of ecoregions and the importance of plant and animal diversity needed for healthy ecosystems. Knowing that there are many “New to the Land” owners, who have purchased property for the enjoyment and value of nature, he demonstrated how they can reach natural resource professionals within Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Texas A&M Forest Service. Personnel in each agency shared their mission, expertise, and available technical guidance resources. Blake also showed landowners how to gain information through credible social media outlets and web-pages. Topics among these sites include videos for habitat management, literature sources, mapping tools and plant identification aids. For the landowner, who does not know where or who to turn to for natural resource expertise, there are many helpful topics, leading them in the right direction to jumpstart their land stewardship.

Trinity Waters, AgriLife Extension offer additional water, land management workshops

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:14:00 +0000

Trinity Waters and AgriLife Extension are continuing their workshops series focused on water and land management for agricultural producers and wildlife managers. The goal of these workshops is to gain better understanding of how land management improves water holding capacity of the land and how to capture more rainfall, which will improve plant production and profitability for landowners. In addition, the effects that management have on the water resources of the Trinity River basin will be discussed as well.

Topics addressed at the workshops include:

Land use trends and impacts on water resources
Regulation update for pesticide applicator's license holders
Features of the TRIMS mapping tool
Developing a Water Quality Management Plan

Dates and location for the workshops are:
Feb. 5 from 1-5 p.m., Texas Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Center, 5301 County Road 4812, Athens.
Feb. 8 from 1-5 p.m., Walker County Storm Shelter, 455 State Highway 75 North, Huntsville

These workshops are free and open to the public and will provide 2.5 hours of Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units — 1 laws and regulations, 1 general and 0.5 integrated pest management — for attendees.

To RSVP for one of the workshops, contact AgriLife Extension associate Blake Alldredge at 979-845-0916 or balldredge@tamu.edu, or go to http://nrt.tamu.edu/schedule and search for “Cooperative Conservation in the Trinity River Basin.”

Feral Hog Management Workshop Feb. 5th in Luling

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Associate) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:45:00 +0000

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in cooperation with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, will host a Feral Hog Management Workshop on February 5, 2013 at the Luling Civic Center in Luling. Registration for the event starts at 8:00 a.m. Five hours have been applied for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator continuing education units 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, Laws and Regulations for Hunting Feral Hogs, Regulations on Movement of Feral Hogs, Feral Hog Control, and Feral Hog Safety and Disease Concerns, Update on Feral Hog Research.

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

plumcreek.tamu.edu/ feralhogs

http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/

PLEASE pre-register with the Caldwell County Extension Office by February 1^stto ensure an accurate count for the meal and handouts. Registration is $20 and includes lunch and refreshments. There will be a $10 late fee at the door for individuals who have not pre-registered. 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 provided 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.

Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Jingling

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:32:00 +0000

At this time of year, children everywhere are filled with excitement and wonder at the thought of Santa bringing them presents on Christmas Day. However, Santa would be stranded at the North Pole without his reindeer. The reindeer allow Santa to travel to all the homes of good little boys and girls and leave toys and Christmas cheer all in one night. In the spirit of Christmas, I’ve compiled a few interesting facts about the animal that epitomizes Christmas.

I suppose the first thing you need to understand about reindeer is that in North America they are only called “reindeer” if they are domesticated. If they are wild, then they should be called “caribou”. Wild caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herds live in arctic tundra, mountain tundra, and northern forests. They live in North America, Russia, and Scandinavia. Caribou migrate between boreal forests and tundra during the winter and summer months. They stay on the tundra during summer to eat lush grasses and avoid the biting insects that live in the forests. During the winter, they head to the forests to avoid the winds of the tundra and feed off of lichens, mosses, and small shrubs.

If you want to be the Grinch that stole Christmas, it is legal to hunt non-domesticated reindeer, or caribou, in Alaska and Canada. Before you sight in your rifle, here are a few things to consider. In Alaska, a nonresident general season tag costs $325. All edible meat is required to be salvaged by state law. Also, the meat on the front and hindquarters, as well as the meat on the ribs must remain naturally attached to the bone until they are processed or exported. That means you would have to pack out up to 300 pounds of meat after shooting a caribou.

Primarily in Scandinavia and Siberia, domesticated reindeer do actually pull sleighs. Reindeer are herded and used for meat, hides, and beasts of burden there. Both male and female reindeer have antlers. That means Dancer and Vixen may actually be girls, not guys with girly names. However, females’ antlers are usually smaller than males’. While there’s plenty of Christmas magic that shrouds the reindeer, there are also some interesting facts that make reindeer worthy of your study, not only as an emblem of Christmas but as a part of nature as well.

New Publication Provides Guidelines for Feral Hog Approved Holding Facilities

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Associate) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has released a new publication providing information on the guidelines associated with approved holding facilities. Approved holding facilites, also known as buyer's stations, allow landowners to mitigate the damage costs associated with feral hogs. This new publication is available below or at the AgriLife Bookstore website.
Feral Hog Approved Holding Facility Guidelines in Texas

New round of Trinity River basin water, land management workshops begin Dec. 12

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:25:00 +0000

Trinity Waters and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are hosting a second round of water and land management workshops in the Trinity River basin. This round of workshops builds on the basic watershed and water quality principles that were presented in the first round of workshops by providing greater detail as to how different land uses and ownership fragmentation can impact the water resources of the Trinity River basin and landowner profitability. To view the presentations from the first round, visit our YouTube channel.

Additional presentations will cover the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit as it relates to pesticide applicators, an overview of the features for the powerful Trinity River Information Management System mapping tool, and how to develop a Water Quality Management Plan.

The new workshop content will provide landowners with a greater understanding of the basic principles for managing land for water, which will improve agricultural production by reducing erosion and increasing water infiltration and water-holding capacity in the soil.

Second-round workshops scheduled for 2012-2013 are:

Dec. 12 from 1-5 p.m., IOOF Event Center, 600 N. 45th St, Corsicana

Feb. 5 from 1-5 p.m., Texas Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Center, 5301 County Road 4812, Athens.

Feb. 8 from 1-5 p.m., Walker County Storm Shelter, 455 State Highway 75 North, Huntsville.

Each workshop will follow the same format, so participants should only attend one. Also, 2.5 Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units — one laws and regulations, one general and 0.5 integrated pest management – will be available for attendees.

Those wishing to attend one of the workshops should RSVP by contacting Blake Alldredge at balldredge@tamu.edu or 979-845-0916, or go to http://nrt.tamu.edu/schedule and look for “Cooperative Conservation in the Trinity River Basin,” and the date and location of the workshop.

Land Use and Ownership Trends in the Trinity River Basin

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:04:00 +0000

This post was guest authored by Matt Wilkins, a Wildlife and Fisheries student at Texas A&M University, and reviewed by Blake Alldredge of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and Todd Snelgrove of Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources.

The Trinity River provides water to 40% of Texans, making it perhaps the most important river basin in Texas. But population growth, habitat loss, and fragmentation greatly affect the Trinity River as changes in land use impact the quality and quantity of water reaching the river. Between 1997 and 2007, Texas gained over 4.3 million new residents, an increase of 22%. More people results in more development and the loss of valuable rural land that supports agriculture and wildlife.

As larger, privately owned farms and ranches are divided into smaller properties it becomes increasingly difficult for them to support farming and ranching operations like they once could. This land fragmentation can also lead to the loss of wildlife habitat, degraded water quality and a loss of recreational opportunities in rural locations. Over 95% of our state’s land is privately owned, and the different management perspectives that landowners have leads to different land uses, which can also greatly affect the wildlife and water resources on their property. In areas such as the Trinity River Basin, the proper stewardship of these private lands is essential to guaranteeing a healthy availability of natural resources for our future generations. To address this ever increasing problem, the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources has created the Texas Land Trends website to provide data on this subject viewable to the public.

General facts about ownership size and land use trends in the Trinity River Basin:

The Trinity River Basin gained over 5,000 small (<100 acres) farms and ranches from the year 1997 to 2007, which resulted from a loss of mid-sized ranches (100-2000 acres).

Despite a high increase in the number of small properties and acres in the 1-100 acre size class, significant consolidation of other properties occurred resulting in an increase over 140,000 acres of land in the 2000+ acre size class. Consolidation was greatest in the middle basin between Dallas and Lake Livingston, while fragmentation was most severe in the lower counties in the basin.

There has been a significant increase in non-native pastures (around 20%), as well as a correlating decrease in native rangeland and cropland. Nearly 173,000 acres has been lost in the “Other” category, which includes orchards, vineyards, and other intensive horticulture operations. Since 1995, wildlife management now qualifies for open-space appraisal (1-d-1) for property tax valuation, leading to an increase in lands managed for wildlife in the Trinity River basin from 2,682 acres in 1997 to 84,593 in 2007. (Wildlife Management information not included in the chart below.)

The fragmentation of these properties is credited to two main things: a weak agricultural economy and rapid population growth. This puts a major strain on the various wildlife species, as well as the water resources of the Trinity River basin. When private lands are fragmented, a number of problems emerge for wildlife populations. Loss of food sources and cover from predation, competitive exotic species, and hunting pressures all become challenges for wildlife with increasing fragmentation.

In addition, ownership size is also directly correlated to profitability landowners derive from the land. Statewide, the proportion of private lands that reported positive net income was greater than 50% for those operations larger than 500 acres in size. Therefore, consolidation of private lands increases profitability of agricultural operations.

How our state’s land is managed directly impacts vital resources such as water. Water use is increasing with the growth of our population. Our land, wildlife and people depend on the quantity and quality of water. Nearly 80% of the water used in Trinity River Basin is geared towards municipal use in the D/FW Metroplex and Houston (Cathey et al 2007). Therefore, it is in the best interests of landowners and municipalities to ensure these rural lands are being managed for water conservation so that rainfall can infiltrate into the ground, which will reduce erosion rates and pollutant loads. Land management practices that do this will prolong reservoir life with less sediment filling it, lower water treatment costs, and increase community well-being.

Conservation easements and Wildlife Management Associations (WMAs) are two ways that landowners can protect their land for future generations and benefit wildlife management in Texas. To find out more about conservation easements, visit the Texas Land Trust Council website and watch this video from the Texas Agricultural Land Trust. To learn more about WMAs, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.

In conclusion, private landowners are the stewards of our wildlife populations and natural resources. Consolidation of properties and an increase of areas managed for wildlife in the middle basin are greatly beneficial for the natural resources in this part of the basin, while high fragmentation and loss of native habitat in the lower basin is a great cause for concern. The combination of the data from the Texas Land Trends website and the understanding of the consequences of an increasing fragmentation rate and land use changes should influence private landowners to work with their neighbors, conservation organizations and federal and state agencies to maintain their land and keep it in one piece.

To learn more about land use and ownership trends in Texas, visit the Texas Land Trends website to read about statewide trends. To learn about trends in your county, river basin, or ecoregion, click on “Trends Visualizer” in the top left.

Works Cited

Cathey, J.C. et al. 2007. Linking Water Conservation & Natural Resource Stewardship in the Trinity
River Basin. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service SP-318.

Coppedge, Clay. "State Losing Ag Land at Rapid Rate."Country World. N.p., 7 Aug. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.countryworldnews.com/news/headlines/1179--state-losing-ag-land-at-rapid-rate.html>.

"Texas Agricultural Land Trust". Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://txaglandtrust.org/>.

"Texas Land Trends." Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://txlandtrends.org>.

Wagner, M. "Land Fragmentation in Texas: Meeting the Challenge." Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Longing For Summer Yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Mariah Box, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Student '15) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:58:00 +0000

Do you or your children crave the warmth and freedom of summer again just as fall’s cool breath begins to caress the earth? I know I do. I begin planning my next summer as soon as the first leaf falls. One event that I was able to help with last summer, that I would absolutely love to participate in again next summer is the Texas Brigade Camps. These camps are an amazing opportunity to teach the next generation proper habitat management techniques and good hunting ethics while giving them excellent leadership and public speaking skills. There are several different areas of game animals in which the camps specialize. I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as a “flock” leader during the maiden voyage of the Waterfowl Brigade. I was in charge of a group of five girls. It was truly amazing to see the transformation that they went through over the course of the five-day camp. One of my affectionately dubbed “ducklings” named Lindsey has summarized her experiences at camp and is allowing me to share them.

"Texas Brigade Camps

I arrived at the Texas Brigade Camp as an avid lover of hunting and the outdoors. In the five-day journey through the Brigades Camp, I became a more confident, well-spoken and informed cadet. I overcame my shyness and was stimulated by fabulous leaders to be more than I imagined I could be. That was just the beginning of my experience voyaging into the thought process of learning hands-on from skilled wildlife biologists and instructors from all over Texas. I had no idea of the potential I might achieve, but thanks to their nurturing and kind spirits I am now beginning to attain that potential. My week at camp equipped me with all the basic facts about conservation and land management. My background experience revolved around my hunting heritage with my family. The three main things I walked away with from my experience at Brigades are expanding my education, becoming more of a leader, and having fun while learning.

First, the Texas Brigades is all about wildlife conservation. I increased my education through the next five days of my life. This camp experience made me a more educated and improved hunter and broadened my hunting abilities. Learning plant ecology and how to age wildlife were some skills I have added to my former understanding. We studied plant ecology by having 'plants of the day' that we would examine. One of the days, we had a scavenger hunt to locate all of the plants we had researched. This helped me remember and identify them in their natural setting. The Brigade Camps are all about enhancing education through hands-on experiences to teach us to apply what we have learned in a class atmosphere. We reviewed habitat to determine the nutrition of an animal’s diet.

Secondly, my Brigades experience was about becoming a leader. I did this by following instructions and speaking up when necessary. Part of the leadership skills came from each cadet giving a power point presentation, marching and cadences, and from a variety of activities. Public speaking involves speaking loudly and making your voice clear for the audience to understand. I approach speaking opportunities with a new perspective now. The marching and cadences also helped to expand my communication skills. Not only did it help us get a voice and stay in sync together, but also it gave me confidence to call out the cadences in front of everyone. One leadership game included a trust walk where you had to let your group lead you in directions unknown to you because you were blindfolded. This increased my leadership skills by forcing me to trust the person in front of me to give me proper directions and then effectively communicate those instructions to the person behind me. Another activity was where the herd of six cadets grabbed onto the rope tied to a bungee. The purpose of this was to work as a team to gather the tin cans with our system while interacting with one another’s personalities.

Lastly, the Brigades experience was about having fun while learning. When we had different games and competitions it caused our learning to become more fun and exciting. This was a positive effect that helped me absorb the concepts because I was enjoying the games.

My desire to see good stewardship of the land and wildlife motivates me to share what I’ve learned with others. The things that I will remember from my Brigades experience are enhancing my education, becoming a leader, and having fun while learning. My experience at the Texas Brigades Camp has empowered me to set high goals and standards for myself and reach for my priorities. This was the highlight of my entire summer because of the tools and information with which I have been equipped. I hope to come back to the Brigades Camp and lead others next summer to pass along the great experience!"

These camps have a very effective and fun way of teaching today’s youth. If you’re interested, you can find more information about when and where the camps are held, as well as registration information http://www.texasbrigades.org/.

Quail Decline in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:44:00 +0000

This post is guest authored by Mariah Box, a sophomore wildlife and fisheries student at Texas A&M University and volunteer with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Wildlife and Fisheries unit.

Texas is viewed as the last stronghold of wild quail hunting. It is well known that quail populations across the state have been declining, and the drought in 2011 was a major blow to population numbers. Although wild quail population numbers are on the rise this year, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Wildlife Specialist and Texas A&M professor Dr. Dale Rollins isn’t sure that the good weather will be enough to bounce quail numbers back from a 5-year decline. “There will be many ranches in the state that say, ‘Hey, we want to give our populations a break from hunting this year, we want to allow them to recover a little bit, and hopefully have good weather this year, so we have better breeding populations next spring. And then we’ll see a nice increase in our core population in the fall of 2013,’” Rollins told StateImpact Texas in a recent article that examined the issue. This article is very insightful and gives the reader a glimpse into Dr. Rollins’ extensive research.

Thankfully, I have been able to experience some of that research firsthand. I was blessed with the opportunity to intern for Dr. Rollins this summer on the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch in Fisher County where he serves as Executive Director. The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch is dedicated to preserving and enhancing quail populations in the Rolling Plains of north Texas. The idea of the ranch was first conceived by a group of bobwhite hunters after a successful hunt. These hunters had a simple wish to continue doing what they loved, hunting quail. They realized that in order to continue to be able to hunt they needed to take action. Bobwhite populations had already been depleted further to the east and they knew that it was only a matter of time before the same thing happened in the west. With the help of The Conservation Fund, the Research Ranch was built on a 4,700-acre ranch in Fisher County with the purpose of preserving the heritage of bobwhite hunting in the rolling plains. Their mission statement, “To provide land managers, and other stakeholders, with timely, relevant technology and management schemes for enhancing quail populations in the Rolling Plains of Texas. To sustain Texas' wild quail hunting heritage for this and future generations.” demonstrates what wildlife management should look like at its core. Wildlife management is all about proper land stewardship. Managing populations so that they neither become too large or too small. The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch does just this through their research. They develop the best techniques for land management that will benefit quail populations by enhancing the habitat.

While the main cause of population decline is believed to be due to habitat loss and fragmentation, Dr. Rollins and the RPQRR staff are also looking into other potential sources for the problem. They have discovered both an eye worm and a cecal worm in wild quail populations across Texas. Operation Idiopathic Decline, or OID, is the manifestation of these discoveries. OID is a biannual trapping effort on several ranches across the western and southern regions of the state. Oral, tracheal, and cloacal swabs are taken randomly from trapped birds. Blood, feather, and stool samples are also taken from the birds. One in every three birds is harvested for testing purposes. The remaining quail are released back into the wild. Mosquito and tick traps are also set out at each trapping site. All of the samples and data gathered at each site are then transported to Texas Tech University where they are tested for a variety of parasites and diseases. This is a massive ongoing project requiring the cooperation and collaboration of various land owners, Texas Tech University, and the staff at the RPQRR.

Although it is true that quail population numbers are declining, rest assured that they are getting great help from some amazing people. If you are interested in learning more about the RPQRR, visit their website at http://www.quailresearch.org/. Dr. Rollins also sends out a monthly e-Newsletter that you can sign up for from the RPQRR homepage. You can also find RPQRR on Facebook and Twitter.

Texas Master Naturalists: Taking Care of Texas

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:41:00 +0000

This post is guest authored by Takona Tipton, a sophomore Wildlife & Fisheries student at Texas A&M University, treasurer of the TAMU Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society and a Volunteer Worker with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Since 1997, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have partnered to develop the Texas Master Naturalist program. The TMN program trains volunteers who are willing to become the stewards of community-based conservation. Some activities that TMN chapters participate in include educating youth about environmental issues, donating time to maintain parks and nature centers, and leading conservation endeavors across the state. Conservation is a global issue, but it is the network of local organizations that really make a positive contribution to natural resources. These volunteers are doing an excellent job and their figures are downright impressive when it comes to time committed, manpower, and the donations that this group has accumulated. Together, the 44 chapters of Texas Master Naturalist program have generated the following list of accomplishments:

- In 2011, 652 people were trained and the total trained to date is: 7,389.

- Service hours in 2011 totaled 281,487 valued at $5.489 Million

- Advanced Training hours in 2011 were 45,542 and the cumulative total is 301,340.

- Outreach for 2011 included 4,212 events. Of those events, 3,289 (78%) were direct events reaching roughly 129,120 people.

- In 2011, TMN projects impacted approximately 13,057 acres and approximately 191,893 acres to date.

- In 2011, TMN projects impacted or developed approximately 161.45 trail miles, and approximately 1,622.70 trail miles to date.

- Chapters received over $65,035 in grants and donations in 2011 and more than $250,541 to date.

- 452 people received their Initial TMN Volunteer certification in 2011.

- In 2011, 238 people received the 250-hour service milestone.

- In 2011, 152 people received the 500-hour service milestone.

- In 2011, 76 people received the 1000-hour milestone.

- In 2011, 17 people received the 2500-hour milestone.

- In 2011, 3 people received the 5,000-hour milestone award.

Over the last 15 years:

- TMN chapters have a total of more than 325 partnerships at the local level.

- Service hour cumulative totals for the program = 1.764 million valued at $34.394 million

Feral Hog Population Growth, Density and Harvest in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Associate) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Feral hogs pose a large problem to Texans because of their destructive nature and large numbers. Until now many estimates on feral hog populations in Texas were not based on scientific studies. In this publication research for modeling feral hog populations in the state is presented. The research included a literature review, gathering harvest data estimates from multiple sources, and creating a population model from these data. What was discovered is that 79% of Texas is suitable as feral hog habitat, and that the estimated feral hog population is 2.6 million. Additionally, it was discovered that currently 29% of the population is harvested every year, but in order to hold the population stable 66% of the population would need to be removed annually for over 5 years. The new publication can be viewed below, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Bookstore, or at the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership website.

Feral Hog Population Growth, Density and Harvest in Texas

Feral Hogs Community of Practice Webinar Series Begins Sept. 18

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Associate) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:13:00 +0000

Of the estimated 4 to 5 million feral hogs in the United States, approximately 2.6 million call Texas home. Feral hogs can be found in approximately 230 of our 254 counties and cause an estimated $52 million of damage to Texas agricultural enterprises each year. Feral hogs are causing an increasing amount of damage in suburban/urban areas because of vehicle collisions and landscape damage.

The Feral Hogs Community of Practice (CoP) was created to help landowners cope with the ever-growing problem that feral hogs present. The Feral Hogs CoP will be hosting a series of webinars over current feral hog issues to help inform the public about the history and biology of feral hogs, as well as disease issues. Also covered in the webinar series will be control techniques for management of feral hogs, and current and future research on Feral Hogs.

Map courtesy of,
Dr. Roel Lopez, Dr. Billy Higginbotham, and Janell Mellish

The Feral Hogs Community of Practice Webinar series will present all webinars at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/feralhog

All webinars are presented from 12:00-1:00P.M. CST

September 18, 2012- The History and Biology of Feral Hogs in the United States
John J. Mayer, Ph.D. - Manager, Environmental Sciences, Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC

October 23, 2012- Control Techniques and Managing Feral Hog Populations
Billy Higginbotham, Ph.D. - Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialist, Texas AgriLife Extension Service

November 20, 2012- Feral Hog Disease Issues
Joseph Corn, Ph.D. - Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia

December 18, 2012- Current and Future Feral Hog Research
Tyler Campbell, Ph.D. – Feral Swine Project Leader, USDA APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center, Florida Field Station

For Questions Please Contact:
Jared Timmons at jbtimmons@ag.tamu.edu or 254-485-4886

Or visit: http://www.extension.org/pages/65098/feral-hogs-webinars

Blog written by: Andrew Reid, Jared Timmons, and Blake Alldredge