An ability to accurately identify the wildlife on your property and know what their habitat needs are will help you determine the best way to manage your property. While we would like to directly observe every animal and every action, we simply cannot. A quick, easy way to identify wildlife is based on tracks, signs, and feces, also known as scat.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has many publications that describe several wildlife species, such as Rio Grande wild turkey, and their habitat needs. These publications also contain recommendations for landowners to improve habitat on their land. These publications can be found on our Publications page or at the AgriLife Bookstore.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department produced a great publication, Texas Wildlife Identification Guide, that contains information about various wildlife species in Texas, such as what their tracks look like, as well as habitat requirements. TPWD also has many Wildlife Fact Sheets that describe many individual species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, invertebrates and plants!
“Potential Uses for Trail Cameras in Wildlife Management” explains how cameras are useful.
A great way for landowners to know what animals are on their property and to understand them better is to use game cameras. Cameras can take photos and video at spots for long periods of time, and are useful for monitoring your wildlife populations and a must have when trapping feral hogs. These cameras are available at most outdoor recreation stores or can be purchased online, in some cases for less than $100.
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