Wild Wonderings

Freestone County Wildlife Field Day set June 1

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:27:00 +0000

Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Offices of Freestone, Leon, and Navarro Counties will be hosting a Wildlife Habitat Field Day at the Blue Lake Ranch in Freestone County on June 1.

Blue Lake Ranch is mostly made up of Trinity River Bottomland. Several years of management decisions have led to excellent habitat development for whitetail deer and waterfowl. The ranch showcases a 65 acre wetland habitat, forested bottomland, Blue Lake, and several hundred acres of land that is well suited for birds and other wildlife.

Several sites on the ranch will be used to develop discussions by Texas Parks and Wildlife, NRCS, and Texas AgriLife Extension Service staff. Some of the topics that will be discussed include native grass establishment, prescribed burning, oak tree reforestation in the Trinity River Bottomlands, invasive weed and brush species management, utilizing food plots for whitetail deer, establishing and managing wetland areas, and thinning bottomland forest to encourage plant diversity.

Participants are asked to call the Freestone County Extension Office at 903-389-3436 by Tuesday, May 29th for registration information and directions to the ranch. All participants should come dressed prepared to walk through parts of the ranch. Rubber boots are highly recommended.

Program registration will begin at 9:00 AM. Activities will begin with introductions at 9:30 AM. Lunch will be provided. Each participant with a Texas Department of Agriculture- Pesticide Applicators License will be eligible for 2 hours of Continuing Education Credits for renewal of their license. Directions and a printable map may be downloaded from the Freestone County Texas AgriLife Extension Service web page at http://freestone.agrilife.org.

Trinity Waters partners with NRCS on new water quality initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:50:00 +0000

On May 17, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), along with Trinity Waters, announced a new water quality initiative to take place in the Trinity River basin. The National Water Quality Initiative is a nationwide program that will provide financial assistance to landowners who implement conservation practices on their land that will benefit water quality.

For the Trinity, this initiative will provide $2 million for landowners in the Chambers Creek watershed in Navarro and Ellis counties. This is an important watershed since it flows into the Richland-Chambers Reservoir, which provides water for roughly 1.6 million people in Fort Worth and surrounding communities in Tarrant County through the Tarrant Regional Water District.

The Chambers Creek watershed is the only watershed in Texas to receive funding. Although not impaired at the present time, Chambers Creek has been impaired in the past and is still noted for undesirable levels of turbidity, siltation, dissolved oxygen, and high nutrient levels. Some examples of voluntary practices that landowners can do include but are not limited to using cover crops, riparian buffers, cross fencing for rotational grazing, filter strips and terraces.

Interested landowners should contact the NRCS Field Office in Corsicana for more information about how to sign up.

To learn more, read the news releases from NRCS and the Beaumont Enterprise.

A Tale of Three Turkeys

Tue, 08 May 2012 20:20:00 +0000

It may surprise some to know that there are six different types (or subspecies) of wild turkeys in North America, three of which occur in Texas. These three subspecies are the Rio Grande, Eastern and Merriam’s wild turkeys. Rio Grande wild turkeys, or Rio’s for short, are the most numerous subspecies in Texas, followed by the Eastern turkey in East Texas, and Merriam’s in far West Texas with the smallest population.

Rio Grande wild turkeys

Rio’s are characterized by a coppery iridescence, tan-to-yellow tips on their tail feathers and somewhat disproportionately long legs compared to their counterparts to the east and west. Rio hens typically weigh between 8 and 12 pounds while gobblers are closer to 20. Hens have similar coloration to the gobblers though duller. Rio’s require savannah-type habitats with intermixed grasslands and wooded areas.

Below: Eastern wild turkey

Eastern turkeys are fairly similar to Rio’s in size and appearance, but with dark buff to chocolate colored tips on the tail feathers. Hens are also similarly colored, but duller. These guys like denser forest habitat found in the Piney Woods and some parts of the Post Oak Belt. Though Rio’s are more numerous in Texas, the Eastern subspecies is the most numerous and widespread across the United States.

The Merriam’s subspecies exhibits jet black body feathers with white tips. Tail feathers are black and brown but also feature white tips. They also have extensive white lines, called barring, on the wing feathers. Combine this coloration with blue-to-purple iridescence on the body feathers and you have quite the striking bird. Size is similar to Rio’s, though these turkeys prefer the Pinion Pine sky-island habitats of the Trans-Pecos mountains.

For more information on managing Rio Grande Wild Turkey, check out the Texas AgriLife Extension Bookstore at www.agrilifebookstore.org

Left: Merriam's wild turkey

Photo Credit:

Eastern wild turkey: New Hampshire Fish & Game at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Wildlife_profiles/profile_wild_turkey.htm

Merriam's wild turkey: The Wild Turkey Zone at
http://www.wildturkeyzone.com/wildturkey/merriams.htm

References:

Kennamer, Mary C. "Rio Grande Wild Turkey." National Wild Turkey Federation Bulletin No.3. Print.
Kennamer, Mary C. "Eastern Wild Turkey." National Wild Turkey Federation Bulletin No.1. Print
Kennamer, Mary C. "Merriam’s Wild Turkey." National Wild Turkey Federation Bulletin No.4. Print.

Coyote or Coydog?

Thu, 03 May 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Another interesting question came our way in response to our post on melanistic coyotes the other day: Was that a coyote or a coydog?

“What the heck is a coydog?” you might ask with a little skepticism. Well, it’s just like it sounds. A coydog is a hybrid of a wild coyote and a domestic dog and, though fairly rare, these hybrids can be quite interesting. Hybridization can occur in any place coyotes and domestic dogs come into contact. Given the coyote’s wide range and proximity to humans (and their dogs), coydogs can be found all over the United States.

Coydogs’ size and appearances vary widely. When one considers the huge variability of domestic dog breeds, this isn’t surprising. Colors from black to red to your standard coyote coloration have been reported. Head shape and stature vary depending on the breed of the parent dog. Generally, they tend to have shorter legs than coyotes and either shaggier or shorter hair.

Their behavior varies between that of a dog and a coyote as well. Coydogs tend to be a touch more aggressive than their domestic parents when found in the wild
,
but have also been known to make good pets. Some wild coydogs can be found running with coyotes, but most are seen on their own.

Coydogs are not present in terribly large numbers in any part of their range for several reasons. Like domestic dogs, coydogs do not exhibit any male parental care like coyotes do, which could hinder pup survival. Coydogs breed significantly earlier in the wild than coyotes, making continued breeding of hybrids with coyotes unlikely. They also have a harder time with hard winters than coyotes. All of these considered, coydog populations simply don’t compete well with native coyotes.That said, individuals can survive quite well in the wild. Several harvested coydogs have been estimated to be more than ten years old based on tooth wear.

So, back to the question at hand: coydog or coyote? The short answer is it’s hard to tell. The long answer is that it is often difficult for even trained wildlife biologists to distinguish atypical coyotes from hybrids by pictures alone. Given the closeness of stature and general appearance to a coyote, I think the earlier ruling stands. But I could be wrong…

*Photo Credit: Dog Breed Info Center www.dogbreedinfo.com/coydog.htm

References:

Kennedy, Michael L., "TAXONOMIC STATUS OF WILD CANIDS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES" (1987). Third Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference, 1987. Paper 32.

Mahan, Brian R., Philip S. Gipson, Ronald M. Case “Characteristics and Distribution of Coyote X Dog Hybrids Collected in Nebraska” (1978). American Midland Naturalist, 100(2) 408-415

Mengel, Robert M. “MammalogistsA Study of Dog-Coyote Hybrids and Implications concerning Hybridization in Canis” (1971). Journal of Mammalogy, 52(2) 316-336

Why is that animal black?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:02:00 +0000

We had an excellent question come in the other day from an interested Texan: what on earth was this thing that looked like a wolf, caught on a game camera. Now, there haven't been any wolves in this part of Texas in a long, long time. There are no species of wolf that are naturally black, either. So, what in the Sam Hill was going on? It was a melanistic coyote.

Most folks know about albinisim, where fur or skin is all-white and the eyes are light in color. Few know about melanism, the opposite of albinism, which is an extreme darkening of pigmentation. Melanism occurs for many reasons, and is a genetic recessive trait. This adaptation, however, makes an animal more efficient at hunting or evading at night. This make sense, when you consider how hard it is to see something dark-colored at night. This can occur in a variety of animals, from mammals to snakes.

Melanism is rare, there's no doubt, but some populations may show it more often than others, if a high number of these individuals survive and interbreed. If you see a melanistic animal--as these folks did--enjoy the sight! You may never see one again.

*Photos Courtesy of Don and Cindy Travis of Milam Co., Texas

Prescribed Burn Workshop to be Held in Washington County

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Kaufman County Workshop Will Address Feral Hog Behavior, Capture

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Feral hogs, as many already know, are a major problem in the state of Texas. There are estimates that the feral hog population in Texas alone has reached somewhere between 1.8 and 3.4 million! With feral hogs' damaging behavior causing an estimated $52 million in damage annually to the agriculture industry, landowners need to know the best ways to rid their land of them.

On May 4, there will be a half day workshop in Kaufman County that will address feral hog behavior and ways to most effectively trap hogs on your property. In addition, there will be information about the Trinity River restoration project and Trinity Waters, a landowner organization that is committed to the people, water, and wildlife resources of the Trinity River basin.

For more info about the workshop, including how to register, read the news release from AgriLife Today.

Rainwater Harvesting Class to be Held in Bexar County

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:52:00 +0000

Registration is now open for the Master Gardner – RWH Specialist course that will be in Bexar County on May 24-25. See the website below for more information, including the agenda and registration form. Please help in promotion of this event so we can have a full class!

Note also on the website that there are two other MG Specialist classes this year, so interested MGs may have closer opportunities later in the year.

http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/master-gardeners-rwh-specialist/

Using Social Media to Drive Conservation Awareness

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Do you ever find yourself on your land and have a question about ways to manage habitat for wildlife and livestock, identify a plant, or how to control feral hogs, and wonder where to find that information? Or do you have to wait until a Biologist or County Extension Agent can get out there? Do you still depend on traditional sources, such as newspapers, TV, or radio? For many, these sources have become a thing of the past for getting the information they want. Instead, many have turned to the internet and social media outlets to receive their information.

Trinity Waters and the Wildlife and Fisheries unit of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service have embraced this reality and are now present on several networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, Flickr, and Scoop.it! Both groups use these networks not only to spread information faster, but to have daily contact with landowners and others with questions.

Trinity Waters uses Facebook, Twitter, and Scoop.it! to post information regarding habitat management for wildlife and livestock, watershed management, drought and economic issues, and many others. They also use Flickr to post photos of the beautiful areas in the Trinity River Basin.

The Wildlife and Fisheries unit also uses Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger to distribute information much the same way as Trinity Waters. In addition, we use YouTube to post videos on habitat and wildlife management techniques, such as how to build a corral trap for feral hogs, deer and quail habitat requirements, and others. Be sure to check out all these great sources of information for free today!

A New, Accurate Method for Aging Deer: the AgriLife Dentine Method

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:17:00 +0000

Do you age deer on your property, in your hunting enterprise, or in a professional capacity? Are you certain that the method you are using is accurate?

Dr. Susan Cooper and her team at the AgriLife Research Station in Uvalde, Texas have developed a new method for aging deer. Her study focused around the use of measuring dentine to age deer more accurately than the older, visual method, known as the Severinghaus method, of tooth wear.

This new method focuses on taking precise measurements of the dentine on the distance between the enamel cusps of the 1st permanent molar on the lower jaw using digital calipers. By multiplying this measurement in millimeters by 1.8 plus another 1.8, the age of the deer can be accurately estimated. There is a handy quick-reference card shown below.

In experimental trials, Dr. Cooper's team accurately assessed the age of known-age deer most of the time, and always assessed it within 2 years of the actual age. In comparison, wildlife professionals using the Severinghaus method were accurate 40% of the time, but many were not within 2 years of true age. These results seem to demonstrate a significant increase in the ability of hunters, land managers, landowners, and professionals to accurately age deer, which in turn may lead to better management.

Input costs for this method are low: digital calipers cost around $20. Since measurements taken are in such small increments, the jaws must be very clean to ensure accurate aging. This is achieved by boiling the skull before measurement to remove any lingering particulates. This method shows promise of being extremely useful for property owners and land managers alike.

Read the full AgriLife Today news article here, which also includes a handy chart for in-the-field calculations.

Pond Management and Feral Hog Control Workshops To Be Held in Corsicana

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:15:00 +0000

Properly managing the land and water resources of the Trinity River Basin is essential to healthy ecosystems that produce abundant wildlife and clean water. It is also important for the economic success of landowners who are looking to enhance their operation. In order to do this, landowners need the right tools, knowledge being the most important. The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is committed to providing expertise on natural resource management issues around the state. Two upcoming programs in Corsicana reflect this mission and is beneficial to any landowner reading this blog.

The first program will be held on March 28 from 9 am - 4 pm and will focus on pond management on private lands. Topics will include basic pond ecology, water quality, pond fertilization techniques, management options to minimize bacterial contaminants, aquatic weed identification and control, and how to drought proof your pond. Participants will also hear about the work being done by Trinity Waters and other landowners to restore the Trinity River. For more information including how to register, click here.

The second program will be held April 4 from 8:30 am - 4 pm and will focus on feral hog control. Damage to agriculture and water quality is escalating with each passing year, therefore, landowners need to be equipped with knowledge in order to combat this growing threat. Topics at this workshop will include feral hog biology, the impact of feral hogs on watersheds, hunting laws and regulations, disease concerns and effective trapping techniques. Participants will alo head outside for hands-on work with trap construction and placement and baiting strategies. For more information including how to register, click here.

Water As A Crop project reviving riparian areas in Trinity River Basin

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:45:00 +0000

Recently, Trinity Waters took part in a video promoting the Water As A Crop project in conjunction with the Sand County Foundation out of Wisconsin. The Tarrant Regional Water District and MillerCoors also took part in the video, which was produced by the Mother Nature Network.

Water As A Crop seeks to enhance the water coming off private lands by restoring the habitats on these private lands at no cost to landowners. These groups work with landowners to determine what practices will be most beneficial to the landowners, as well as wildlife and water resources. Practices include native grass and forb plantings in riparian areas and cross-fencing to enable rotational grazing.

The program works by connecting with corporate sponsors, such as MillerCoors, to fund conservation activities done on private lands. By restoring these lands and managing them properly, they can act as a "sponge" as native grasses and forbs increase absorption into the ground, which will reduce flooding and erosion downstream.

The first project is taking place in the Mill Creek watershed that empties into the Richland-Chambers Reservoir in Navarro County. This reservoir is managed by the Tarrant Regional Water District and is crucial to their operation as it supplies drinking water to their customers in Fort Worth and surrounding communities. This is one example of how rural lands provide a multitude of benefits to urban residents.

To learn more, view the video below.

4-H Hunting and Wildlife Coaches Workshop Held

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:22:00 +0000

4-H Hunting and Wildlife Coaches Workshop

In this day and age of tight budgets and personnel shortages, how do you continue to connect kids to the outdoors in a meaningful, long-lasting way?

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s 4-H program has a way. A 4-H Hunting and Wildlife Coach Training in College Station on February 4^th and 5^th proved this once again, and was a huge success. Twenty 4-H volunteers from across the state participated in the 2-day workshop. The goal of the training was to produce volunteers who would lead youth in safe, knowledgeable and responsible hunting projects and clubs. The agenda was jam-packed with 4-H Hunting Curriculum activities, a variety of live fire exercises, and Texas Hunter Education Instructor Training. Participants were dual certified as 4-H Hunting Coaches and TPWD Hunter Education Instructors. Presentations were given on Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) by David Baxter, while other presenters gave talks on Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC), and 4-H Wildlife Challenge, along with other natural resource programs. David did an awesome job of inspiring us all!

· Many positive comments were made after the training, one in particular being, "how can we keep this momentum going?” Good question. Larry Hysmith, 4-H Natural Resource Coordinator, and Denise Garza, Texas AgriLife Extension Associate in Wildlife and Fisheries, who planned the workshop, are already planning another. You can look for more dates and more information about other natural resource youth programs at texas4-h@tamu.edu.

Each coach received a 2010 Draft 4-H Hunting Curriculum from National 4-H. A finalized version will be available soon on line. The curriculum is over 200 pages of lesson plans and fact sheets related to hunting. Additionally, each participant walked away with NRA Hunter’s Guide, Texas Hunter Education Student Manual, NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge Rules and Example Exams, NRA’s Muzzleloading Rifle Handbooks, copies of A Sand County Almanac, and other resources such as gun locks.

The shooting events were hosted by Kyle Kacal at Tonkaway Ranch in Brazos County. We got to shoot in every event: rifle, archery, muzzleloading, and shotgun. Even though the rain threatened our muzzleloading, we were able to keep our powder dry. Current 4-H Hunting coaches Mike Malone and Kevin Dockery brought their children to help with muzzleloading and archery. They did an outstanding job! Mike and Kevin also provided instruction on orienteering and wildlife challenge.

These twenty new 4-H Hunting and Wildlife Coaches will now go back to their counties and provide year-long leadership to youth in their area. They can provide basic hunter education, monthly activities on a variety of topics related to wildlife and hunting and then end their year with a hunt through Texas Youth Hunting Program. All accomplished through quality training and their volunteer hours.

Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection Expands Knowledge of Wildlife in Texas

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000

The Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection (TCWC) was established in 1936 by Dr. William B. Davis, founder of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. The TCWC houses over 1,000,000 preserved specimens in four divisions: birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles and amphibians. All four divisions are ranked either first or second in the state and all are considered internationally invaluable.

For centuries, natural history collections have played a leading role in biodiversity-based research focused on systematics and taxonomy, and broad studies of ecology and evolution seeking to document species distributions, habitat, and morphological and genetic diversity. TCWC curators and their students strive to maintain and explore worldwide biodiversity by conducting research in Africa, Mexico, Central and South America, and throughout the United States, with a focus on Texas. Current TCWC research ranges from conservation of critically endangered species, to applying cutting-edge genetic techniques to identify populations in need of conservation, to the discovery and description of species new to science.

The TCWC plays a unique role at Texas A&M University in that labs associated with five courses are taught in, and rely heavily on, the collections. Teaching courses in the TCWC exposes students (over 200 each semester) to natural history collections, museum-based research, and the importance of collections to the scientific process. This has allowed the TCWC to attract dozens of undergraduate students interested in volunteering or interning at the collection, or in conducting research with TCWC Curators. Many of these undergraduates go on to become graduate students in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and utilize TCWC specimens in their research. The TCWC is extensively involved in community outreach with ties to various groups such as public schools, Texas Master Naturalists, Boy Scouts, and the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History.

TCWC curators and affiliates have a rich history of publishing their research, with over 1230 papers published since 1936. Faculty Curators have been successful in obtaining millions of dollars from federal, state, and local agencies to fund their research and improve the collections at the TCWC. If you are interested in learning more about what we do or how to support research and teaching at the TCWC, click here.

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act Turns 75

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Image Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Seventy-five years ago, history was made when the Congress of the United States passed a bill known as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Known better by its two chief sponsors, Senator Key Pittman of Nevada, and Representative A. Willis Robertson of Virginia, the Pittman-Robertson Act has provided funds to the restoration of fish and wildlife species, ranging from wild turkey, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, wood duck, beaver, black bear, giant Canada goose, American elk, desert bighorn sheep, bobcat, mountain lion, and several species of predatory birds. Many of these species we take for granted today, but in 1937, even white-tailed deer were rare in many areas.

In the 1930s, a group of concerned American sportsmen, fishermen, and conservationists, along with the firearms industry urged congress to create a funding apparatus to preserve what was left of the diverse wildlife and fish of the nation, and work to restore them to their former range. This was to be achieved by placing a 10% excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and other hunting-related items to provide funding for such endeavors. In the subsequent years, taxable items have expanded to include other items related these pursuits.

This money is sent directly to the states, and is matched by the states at a rate of 1 dollar to every 3 of federal funds. For Texas, that comes out by about $9 million annually. These funds support various projects and efforts in a variety of ways, from habitat acquisition, restoration efforts, wildlife research, and even hunter education. Although hunters and fishermen ultimately fund the projects, non-consumptive users benefit by utilizing lands and resources acquired, to say nothing for the rich wildlife diversity present. Many non-game species benefit from restoring native habitats.

As wildlife and fish enthusiasts of all stripes look forward to the future, we must look back and admire what those forward thinking individuals set in motion back in 1937. Consider where we might be without it.

Free workshops offered to Trinity River basin landowners

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:57:00 +0000

We at Texas AgriLife Extension, Trinity Waters, and the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) are working hard to provide high quality products and information for landowners in the Trinity River Basin. As I posted awhile back, the folks at IRNR recently updated the Trinity River Information Management System (TRIMS), which is an online mapping tool specifically designed for 38 Texas counties within the Trinity Basin. TRIMS has some great features that would benefit any landowner seeking to do conservation or proper land management. TRIMS provides access to soils, elevation, hydrology, and vegetative cover data and can show areas that can be restored to native grasslands or bottomland hardwood forests. Agricultural producers can also use it to measure acreage or fenceline length.

Trinity Waters is hosting 2 FREE half day workshops on February 28 in Terrell and February 29 in Huntsville. At these workshops, landowners will be loaned a computer and work with system developers to learn how to use TRIMS effectively.

There are only 20 spots available at each workshop, so you must preregister by emailing Blake Alldredge at balldredge@tamu.edu. Read more about the workshop in this news release from AgriLife Today.

Lone Star Healthy Streams--Linking Feral Hogs and Water Quality

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Image Courtesy of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Over the last few years, there has been quite a bit of discussion about the health of our inland waterways. Water is becoming a big topic everywhere, and Texas is no different. I used to listen to my grandpa talk about the times when you could drink water right out of Possum Creek, near my boyhood home. Nowadays, you simply can't do that due to degraded water quality.

Here at Wild Wonderings, you know we look for every opportunity to promote wildlife-related issues. This is no different, since there are a number of factors influencing the health of our streams and rivers. Most of these are non-point source. That means simply that, unlike a factory dumping directly into a stream--which is an easy source to point out--these cannot be identified as just one source of pollution.

Notable among the current problems facing Texas' Streams are the effects of Feral Hogs. This is a problem our friends over at the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership are working hard to address. Much of this is due to the rooting behavior of hogs which increases erosion and sedimentation, but also health concerns related to hog excrement and E. coli.

A new website, Lone Star Healthy Streams, has been produced by our friends in the Texas AgriLife Extension Service's Soil and Crop Sciences Unit, in partnership with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Texas Water Resources Institute. This website highlights not only the effects of Feral Hogs, but also management practices, health concerns, and general life histories. The Lone Star Healthy Streams goes a step further, out of the realm of wildlife, to discuss effects of various livestock animals on water quality.

Feral Hogs Negatively Affect Native Plant Communities

noreply@blogger.com (Jared Timmons, Extension Assistant) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:15:00 +0000

Feral hogs cause a great deal of damage to the Texas landscape. One damage that may not be as obvious is their impact on native plant communities. Researchers at Rice University and Texas A&M University conducted a study in the Big Thicket National Preserve excluding feral hogs from study plots to determine if feral hogs impacted vegetation. There were several interesting findings, one being that large seeded tree species such as oaks were less abundant in unfenced areas due to consumption by feral hogs. Additionally unfenced plots had more bare ground and less plant diversity, most likely due to rooting by feral hogs. For more findings from this research and management recommendations in ecologically sensitive areas see this new publication titled: "Feral Hogs Negatively Affect Native Plant Communities" available below or at the Texas AgriLife Extension bookstore.

Feral Hogs Negatively Affect Native Plant Communities

Conservation Leaders For Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Cathey, Ph.D., Extension Wildlife Specialist) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Over the last four days, I played the roles of a Certified Wildlife Biologist, hunter, instructor, and mentor, while interacting with high achieving college students participating in a nationwide program called Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow. This program is sponsored by the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation and the Wildlife Management Institute.

The goal of the CLfT is to identify future and current leaders of the natural resource profession who do not hunt and provide them with an understanding of the diverse values and important roles of hunting and its contribution to conservation.

More than 40 universities and 20 government agencies have been involved in CLfT. As a whole, the program holds 12 workshops at 7 different facilities across the nation. This was the first time to conduct the program in Texas, which was hosted by the Welder Wildlife Foundation.

Fourteen students from Texas A&M University, Texas State University, Sul Ross State University and Texas A&M University - Kingsville were selected among their peers to attend this interactive workshop. CLfT is not intended to recruit or train the participants to be hunters. Instead, the objective is to provide participant with insights into why hunting is important from biological, social, cultural, economic and recreational standpoints— and its role in conservation.

Plans are already underway for next year’s Texas workshop. To learn more about these trainings and to hear from students and instructors, please see the CLfT videos. Spending time with these outstanding students and interacting with my friends and colleagues from around Texas and other states was very rewarding and time well spent.

Texas Land Trends Puts Changing Texas Lands into Perspective

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Map Courtesy of Texas Land Trends

I often find myself describing how the area around where I grew up has changed since I was a kid. Folks find it hard to believe that what is now a booming city known as Pflugerville was once thousands of acres of farmland with a sleepy town in the middle . Population 4000 became population 40,000 in the blink of an eye, and a lot of land changed along with it. In my Father's time, it was mostly large farms, covering hundreds, if not thousands of acres. Now, it's mostly neat suburbs and small lots. With the influx of new folks to Texas, it can be hard to see just what has changed, and how much.

The folks over at the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) and the American Farmland Trust have developed a new tool, Texas Land Trends to help Texans understand the changing dynamic of land use in the state.

The website showcases various changes, ranging from land use, property size (in acres), land type (such as native grasses, forest, etc), and loss of agricultural lands over a variety of searchable areas, sorted by county, watershed, ecoregion, metro area, or statewide. Clear graphs and maps make changes easy to understand, but ample data is also provided. These can be viewed as overall, general trends by region, such as the I-35 Corridor or the Rio Grande Valley (briefings), or as detailed graphs, maps and charts, based on more local interests.

This information is a helpful resource for landowners and conservation professionals, but probably is most helpful to general public in helping to convey information about our changing state to everyone. Even if you think you know how your area sits on all these topics, take a look and you may be surprised. I certainly was!

Now is best time of year to aggressively control feral hogs

noreply@blogger.com (Blake Alldredge, Extension Associate) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:20:00 +0000

From now until the spring green-up is one of the best times of the year to control feral hogs, says a AgriLife Extension Wildlife Specialist in a recent article in AgriLife Today. One reason for this is the lack of food. As the acorn supply dwindles and hunters stop broadcasting deer corn, hogs move around more in search of food so that landowners have greater success baiting. Another reason to remove feral hogs during this time is that there seems to be a reproductive peak this time of year.

Several options are available when it comes to reducing feral hog numbers. Trapping, snaring, hunting, and aerial shooting are options, with trapping being the most efficient. Using a corral trap, as pictured above, is the best method of trapping because it contains a larger area than box traps and other species, such as deer, can escape if they get inside the trap. Due to the trap-shy nature of hogs, it is best to use a game camera in conjunction with baiting to ensure greatest possible trapping success. Lock trap doors open to allow hogs free movement in and out of the trap and bait with corn or some other attractant. Use camera photos and/or videos to monitor feral hog behavior in and around trap. Once most or all hogs come and go into the trap without hesitance, set the trap before nightfall and check it as early as possible in the morning to reduce the hogs' time in the trap. More info on feral hogs can be found at http://www.feralhogs.tamu.edu/ and http://www.pcwp.tamu.edu/.

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