AgriLife Extension Wildlife & Fisheries
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When hunting, remember fire safety

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Texas A&M Forest Service: 42% of wildfires occur during major hunting season months

Texas A&M Forest Service reminds Texans to be careful with activities that may cause a wildfire this hunting season.

Hunter in camouflage kneels in brush looking out over an open field.
Hunting season has arrived, and with that comes an increased risk of wildfires across the state. (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M Forest Service)

The general season for white-tailed deer hunting opened Nov. 5 for all but the two westernmost counties in Texas.

From 2017 to 2021, Texas A&M Forest Service responded to 3,682 wildfires that burned 1.4 million acres. During that time, 42% of wildfires occurred during the major hunting season months of September through January.

“Texas A&M Forest Service wants all hunters to be safe this season,” said Karen Stafford, Texas A&M Forest Service State Wildfire Prevention Program leader. “We all have a role to play in protecting our state from wildfires, so remember to do your part and don’t let a wildfire start.”

Nine out of 10 wildfires in Texas are human-caused, and 65% of wildfires that occur during hunting season are caused by debris burning and equipment use, which includes parking in dry grass and dragging trailer chains.

Tips to avoid wildfires

Recent rainfall has helped increase the amount of moisture in vegetation across the Texas landscape and reduced wildfire activity.

But even when wildfire activity is low, the possibility of an ignition is a concern. It only takes one spark to start a wildfire, and hunters are encouraged to be cautious outdoors.

Some tips to help avoid starting a wildfire while hunting and camping this fall include:

  • Avoid driving over and parking on dry grass. The heat from your vehicle can easily ignite the grass.
  • Always check with local officials for burn bans or other outdoor burning restrictions. Each county in Texas sets and lifts their own burn bans. Make sure you know your county’s burn ban status and if it restricts open flames and other heat-causing activities such as using charcoal. View the latest burn ban map here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/burnbans/.
  • Never leave a cooking fire or campfire unattended, and always make sure it is completely out by drowning it, stirring it and feeling to ensure that it is out cold before you leave.
  • When taking a trailer out on your adventures, make sure that the tires are properly inflated, chains will not contact the road and that any loose metal will not continually hit anything else, all which can cause sparks.
  • Always be ready to put out a fire should one start. Have a shovel and water with you in camp and have a fire extinguisher with you at all times.

For additional information about preventing wildfires this hunting season, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/HuntingFireSafety/.

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Risks and benefits of bats

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Bats are beginning to become active in some southern parts of the state, and while cold fronts could reduce activity, it is a good time for the public to be aware of the benefits and risks associated with Texas species.

Bats emerge from the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin.
Bat watchers gather at the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin as bats emerge at dusk to feed. (Stock photo)

Janet Hurley, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management specialist, Dallas, said Texas residents should expect bat activity to increase as temperatures climb.

Hurley said bats are typically more prevalent in areas with agricultural fields in proximity, but cities like Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Waco, Temple and College Station and the surrounding suburbs have higher bat populations.

Bats will soon be exiting torpor as temperatures allow them to activate and seek food and water, Hurley said.

“Activity will be on the increase over the coming weeks and months. Once evening temperatures are consistently 70 degrees, it will be game on,” she said. “That tells them it is time to be out there feeding on insects.”

Billion-dollar bats

A tri-colored bat
The tri-colored bat is among the 33 species found in Texas. They historically ranged in the eastern half of the state but have been reported as far west as Lubbock County. (Texas A&M AgriLife Research)

Bats consume large amounts of insects, including crop-damaging pests, and are considered a beneficial species, she said. But they can also be a nuisance and pose a public health risk. It is important for people to be mindful of their presence and role in the environment and cautious during encounters.

There are 33 bat species in Texas, representing one of the most diverse bat populations in the U.S. — a population that is growing.

Bats roost in various habitats, including caves, trees and bridges, but they are increasingly found in buildings. They typically roost near food or water sources, but some bats travel miles each night to eat their favored foods.

Texas bats consume some mosquitoes, Hurley said, but their diets consist primarily of moths, including corn earworm and armyworm moths, and beetles. This diet plays a large role in controlling insect pests in agriculture. It is estimated Texas bats eat enough insects to save producers over $1.4 billion annually in pest control costs alone. 

“They literally are billion-dollar bats,” she said. “We have resident bats that never leave, but many species migrate into Texas from Mexico, and some migrate from Mexico up to Wisconsin. Many times, their migration will coincide with the migration of the various moths. They can’t consume enough, but they try.” 

Take precautions, avoid contact

Roosting sites in buildings can increase the chance of interactions with humans and the annoyances of noise, odor, piles of droppings and the potential danger of rabies.

Only a tiny percentage of bats in colonies carry rabies, but any bat found on the ground is more likely to be sick or injured. Signs of possible rabies infection are flying in the daytime, dirt in the bat’s mouth or teeth, abnormal sounds, cloudy eyes, dehydration, mucous in the nostrils, breathing difficulties and spastic movements or paralysis.

“It’s best to avoid handling bats under any circumstance,” she said. “They may seem cute, but a grounded bat during daylight hours, as with any nocturnal animal out during daylight, there is a greater chance they have rabies or some other zoonotic disease.”

Hurley said a bite, scratch or even saliva transmission could be problematic.

If there is any chance a person may have been bitten or had direct contact with a bat, the animal should be captured and submitted to the local health department for rabies testing. For more information about rabies, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services Infectious Disease Control website.

Bat in the house?

Typically, bats that enter a home do so by accident. If they do not find their way out, they can be safely captured by waiting until the bat lands on the wall or ceiling.

Carefully place a box or coffee can over the bat and slide a piece of cardboard between so that the bat remains inside the container. If there is a reason to believe the bat could be sick and tested for rabies, call your local law enforcement or animal control to have it picked up. If no one comes in contact with the bat, it can be turned over to a wildlife rescue organization or released outside away from people and pets, preferably after sundown.

“Be calm because the more you get excited, the more they will get excited,” she said. “Put on some good leather gloves, let them land somewhere and then use anything like a shoebox or small trashcan and cardboard or something to scoop them into it. If they just flew in accidentally and seem fine, you can take them outside, but make sure to place them somewhere they can launch from like onto a tree. Bats cannot take off from the ground like birds.”

If a bat is found in a room with an unattended child or someone sleeping or there is a reasonable possibility the person came in contact with the bat, the bat should be captured and submitted to the designated local public health agency for testing. Pets should not be allowed to interact with bats.

Bat colonies that take up residence in attics, in wall spaces or under eaves of occupied buildings can be safely evicted. Using pesticides against bats is illegal and using traps can drive bats to other areas of a structure. The best method is exclusion techniques that allow bats to exit but prevent reentry. 

A free online AgriLife Extension “Bats 101” course describes practices related to integrated pest management, IPM, practices and bats as pests, how to perform bat removal and exclusion techniques, and how to solve bat problems by applying IPM techniques.

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The post “Texas bats to emerge soon” first appeared on AgriLife Today.

Disease and wildlife

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The next webinar in the monthly Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management Unit stewardship series is “Influence of Disease on Wildlife Conservation.”

A group of feral hogs stand behind a wire t-post fence. The grass is brown and dry and the hogs are shades a brown and black
Feral hogs’ role as a disease vector will be covered during the March 3 webinar, as will be the relationship between disease and wildlife conservation. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

The online event will take place from noon to 1 p.m. March 3. Tammi Johnson, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research assistant professor of wildlife disease ecology, Uvalde, is the featured speaker.

The cost is $35 and advance registration is required at https://tx.ag/RWFMMarchWeb22. Upon completion of registration and credit card payment, participants will receive an email with two attachments — a receipt and a registration confirmation. At the end of the registration confirmation are instructions on how to access the webinar.

“We are thrilled to feature Dr. Johnson for our March webinar and grateful for her insight and perspective for landowners,” said Morgan Treadwell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension rangeland specialist and series co-creator, San Angelo. “Johnson’s research program is tackling some of the most challenging problems in the state right now. For example, the movement of vectors and disease-causing pathogens by feral hogs.”

Johnson’s expertise in identifying priorities at the livestock interface has led to enhanced understanding of wildlife epidemiology, which will in turn benefit wildlife health, agricultural productivity, biodiversity and human health, Treadwell said.

Proactive disease management

An increased awareness of the role of disease in wildlife conservation will enable managers to focus on proactive, rather than reactive, approaches to disease management and its role in wildlife conservation, said Johnson.

Called the “father of wildlife ecology,” Aldo Leopold was considerably ahead of his time when he devoted an entire chapter to the control of disease in his seminal book Game Management published in 1933, she said.

Leopold recognized that disease was likely playing a much bigger role in wildlife conservation than realized and that wildlife population densities were probably governed by disease, Johnson said.

“As a disease ecologist, I study patterns of diseases in populations, with an emphasis on understanding the principles that underlie disease patterns,” Johnson said. “I strive to understand how host-pathogen-vector interactions influence the emergence of new diseases, the spread of familiar ones, and the appearance of outbreaks and epidemics.”

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America’s native cranes — endangered and abundant

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Virtual seminar, Up Close with Cranes, to be held March 3 from 6-8:30 p.m.

A white crane with a red head flying against a bright blue background. The logo for Birding with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is in the top right corner
A virtual birding seminar will discuss cranes on March 3 with four leading experts in the field. (Photo courtesy Bryan Calk)

“In the U.S., we have a dichotomy of cranes,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde. “While whooping cranes are endangered and protected, sandhill cranes are abundant and managed with regulated hunting.”

The cost of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service event is $15, and preregistration is required at https://tx.ag/UpCloseWithCranes. The event is part of the Birding with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program.

The webinar will feature speakers who will take participants up close with America’s native cranes and explore their similarities and differences. They also will share new research and ‘behind the gates’ habitat management, said Frank.

“We have four speakers in 2.5 hours, so the pace of the event is meant to be engaging as we consider the two similar yet different species,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension 4-H agent for Gillespie County.

Grant said although speakers are coming from around the country, birds bring everyone together and many of the topics discussed will sound familiar to Texas birders.

“This virtual seminar is designed to give us a peek into the world of cranes,” she said.

On the agenda

The seminar speakers are prominent leaders and scientists dedicated to crane research, preservation and management.

  • Liz Smith, Ph.D., is the North American program director for the International Crane Foundation. She previously served as a research scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and developed the Texas Whooping Crane Program.
  • Dave Baasch, Ph.D., is a threatened and endangered species specialist for The Crane Trust. In addition to whooping cranes and sandhill cranes, Baasch has studied interior least terns, piping plovers, deer and elk. He will discuss management implications for the two North American crane species.
  • Sara Zimorski is a biologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. She leads the effort to reintroduce and establish a population of whooping cranes in the state after an absence of over 60 years. Previously, Zimorski worked for the International Crane Foundation.
  • Emily Wells works in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California as the conservation program manager on Staten Island, working with sandhills cranes and other water birds. Her presentation will focus on the importance of working lands for conservation.

The next Birding with Extension event, Birding the Hill Country, is already full, said Frank, but more birding opportunities will be announced later this year. She encourages birders to join the weekly Wednesday Cup Chat at 7:30 a.m. on Facebook, where the team will announce other upcoming events. Past Cup Chat topics can be found on their YouTube channel.

For additional information on upcoming birding events, visit wildlife.tamu.edu/birding/.

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Balance for bats

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Research surveys like one at Mojave Preserve benefit conservation, recreation

Bats and hikers in the 1.6-million-acre Mojave National Preserve in southern California are benefitting from an ongoing survey of abandoned mines by a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.  

A cluster of Townsend’s big-eared bats.
A cluster of Townsend’s big-eared bats, a bat species found in both the Mojave Preserve and in Texas. (Photo by Chris Taylor)

Michael Morrison, Ph.D., professor and Caesar Kleberg Chair in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation for the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management at Texas A&M University, started surveying mines in the Mojave Preserve eight years ago. His primary interest has been surveying bat species that use the mines as seasonal shelter.

In addition to the survey, Morrison monitors bat populations at various locations within the preserve as part of his research. Over the years, he also has participated in statewide assessments of Texas bat species and populations and spent time researching bats in other states like New Mexico and Nevada.

“I tell people I spend more time underground than above ground,” he said. “It’s a management mission because these agencies and organizations don’t have the funding or expertise to produce this type of survey.”

The beneficial partnership

Morrison partnered with the National Park Service, NPS, and Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, NRI, in a mutually beneficial program that provides research data. It also provides the NPS with information related to thousands of abandoned mines and exploratory holes in the preserve created during the rush for precious metals like silver, gold and iron ore.

Various birds, bats, rodents and other wildlife live in and around the man-made structures, Morrison said. But most of these mines are accessible by the public at their own peril. NPS hopes to balance public access and safety with habitat protection.

A gate that prevent hikers from entering the mine shaft but allows bats to enter.
A gate at the entrance to the Evening Star mine that prevents hikers from accessing the shaft but allows bats to enter. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Morrison)

“Many of these areas have very little wildlife benefit and are safe for the public,” he said. “They are left alone. My primary focus is locating sites that are used by wildlife during critical seasonal activities like hibernation or breeding and providing surveys that help direct conservation. But I also report potential hazards they might want to look at.“

Morrison surveys mines, mine shafts and exploratory shafts to help the NPS determine whether bats and other wildlife utilize them. These mines and shafts may be sealed or gated based on his surveys and other inspections by the NPS to identify potential safety hazards for preserve visitors.

For instance, if a mine serves no use to wildlife and reveals safety hazards, such as vertical shafts a hiker might fall down, the entrance could be sealed. If site surveys reveal seasonal populations of bats utilize a mine and the shaft contains features that could be dangerous to trekkers, the entrance is blocked with a gate that continues to allow bats and other wildlife to move freely, Morrison said. A mine could also be closed if visitors can access spaces utilized by bats and possibly interrupt seasonal bat activity.  

“These are public lands, and the agencies want them to be accessible,” he said. “But the managers have to consider public safety along with the habitat use by wildlife. My surveys help them balance their decisions. But for my research, these surveys and having access to these locations to monitor the various species is invaluable.”

Monitoring, surveys critical for conservation

For years, nonprofits and state and federal agencies have worked with Morrison to monitor how human activity impacts wildlife. His survey data and monitoring tracks species, especially bats, to determine if there is unintentional interference by hikers or from prescribed burn and grazing programs.

The Mojave Preserve alone provides breeding, brooding and hibernation locations for more than a dozen bat species, he said. Around 10-15 species are present depending on the time of the season.

Bat species have preferences when it comes to where they breed, raise young and hibernate, Morrison said. Some prefer to breed in low-elevation areas and hibernate in high-elevation areas, whereas the opposite is true for other species. 

But food and water availability are a necessity for animals including bats, he said. Wildlife typically concentrate in and around mines with springs nearby.

The surveys have provided Morrison insights to multi-seasonal data and observations that otherwise would be unavailable. Research has shown bats can live up to 25 years in the wild, and the surveys, along with tagging of adult bats, have allowed him to observe ebbs and flows in numbers within populations. It has also revealed their behavior under year-to-year conditions.

Survey says

For instance, after nine years observing and surveying the Townsend’s big-eared bat in the White Mountains of eastern California, Morrison saw behavior he’d never observed before.

Typically, the bats cluster together in the spring to have their young. During this time, bats gorge on insects as they recover from hibernation. But spring feeding is especially important for females, which ovulate and fertilize a single egg with sperm they collected during breeding time the previous fall. But this past year, Morrison and other scientists noted many bat colonies did not cluster up.

Scientists observed one commonality in the locations – dry winter conditions and low insect numbers. As Morrison and his peers looked deeper into specific colonies, they found very few females had become pregnant and either did not ovulate or absorbed the embryo, likely due to drought stress. This year, Morrison will be watching to see if an above-average snowpack leads to a population recovery.   

“The surveys provide my research some really interesting insights into species dynamics,” he said. “It gives us a pretty accurate count on major colonies, mortality rates among the young and whether the young follow the mother or scatter out within other maternity or hibernation locations. So, seeing something that I’d never seen before really reinforced how important this work is on both the micro and macro level when it comes to conservation.”

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The post “Texas A&M scientist seeks balance for bats, public” first appeared on AgriLife Today.

 

COVID transmission among deer

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New study indicates captive Texas deer can contract, likely transmit SARS-CoV-2 virus to each other

With deer hunting a major recreational activity and economic benefit to the Texas economy, understanding more about the nexus of hunters, deer and the possibility of zoonotic disease transmission is important in ensuring the industry’s overall safety and sustainability.

Small herd of white-tailed deer.
Deer hunting in Texas is a source of recreation, and it also provides economic benefits to the state. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

There are more than 10,000 captive cervid facilities throughout the U.S. where deer are bred, according to The Wildlife Society, and more than 500 of these facilities are in Texas.

“Captive cervid facilities are part of an industry that involves raising deer to be used as breeding stock or for hunting,” said John Tomecek, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.   

Tomecek said there are some exposures related to keeping animals in a closer proximity than what would be normal in the wild, including the possibility of disease transmission.

“Disease transmission is a concern anywhere animals are kept close together, and research has shown there is a correlation between their population density and the rate of transmission,” he said. “There have not only been instances of captive animal-to-animal disease transmission, but also transmission between captive animals and wild populations. SARS-CoV-2 has had an impact on other wildlife, including some endangered species.”

A new study by Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has revealed that captive white-tailed deer in Texas are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. With over 90% of the captive deer at one facility testing positive for the virus, the authors indicate their findings likely reflect deer-to-deer transmission.

What spurred the research?

Within The Texas A&M University System, researchers have been investigating how animals are involved in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 since the summer of 2020. Their initial work detailed infections in about a quarter of the dogs and cats that lived in households with infected owners in Central Texas and led to questions about other animals that interact with humans. 

Additionally, work conducted last year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, showed free-ranging white-tailed deer populations across Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania had produced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, which indicated they had been exposed to COVID.

The Texas A&M University System research team then developed collaborations for a study on captive white-tail deer in Texas, focused on animal health and the potential for viral transmission from infected animals to other animals.

Sarah Hamer, Ph.D., DVM, associate professor of epidemiology at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and principal investigator for the new study, said since free-ranging white-tailed deer with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been found in several states, now including Texas. She said it was important to understand how the risk to captive deer may be similar or different.

“These studies open our eyes to a less ‘human-centric’ perspective on COVID transmission and to the need to investigate potential animal reservoirs for the disease,” she said.

Specifics of the study

White-tailed deer have been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 because their ACE2, or angiotensin converting enzyme 2, which is where the virus attaches, is very similar to that of humans, said Terry Hensley, DVM, assistant agency director for diagnostic services with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Bryan-College Station.

“However, while the white-tailed deer in the USDA study were able to be infected with SARS- CoV-2, then shed the virus and infect other deer in the study, they did not develop any observable clinical illness from the virus,” he said. “We still have a lot to learn concerning SARS-CoV-2 and wildlife.”  

Two individuals dressed in lab clothing and biosecure masks in a Level 3 lab at Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
Wendy Tang, Ph.D., left, and Christopher Roundy, Ph.D., research associates in the lab of Gabriel Hamer, Ph.D., in Texas A&M’s Department of Entomology, tested captive deer samples for exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Tang, Roundy and Hamer were co-authors of the new study. (Photo courtesy Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory)

The Texas A&M study, which involved graduate student, postdoctoral, faculty and veterinarian researchers, involved the use of plaque reduction neutralization assays to test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 80 deer at three captive cervid facilities in Central and South Texas, and additional work is ongoing.

Samples were tested in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

“The level of infection we detected, which was more than 90% of the tested captive deer at one facility, cannot be explained by human contact alone,” said Hamer, who also oversees a research laboratory focused on the ecology, evolution and epidemiology of vector-borne wildlife and zoonotic diseases using field-based studies and molecular tools.

“Only a subset of the deer that tested seropositive had close or direct contact with humans,” she explained. “While there may have been some initial human-to-deer transmission of the virus, the vast majority of transmission at that facility appears to have been from deer to deer.”

Hamer also noted the prevalence of COVID-positive deer in the one Texas facility was more than double the amount reported in recent studies of wild deer populations in Texas and some northern states.

The research and its benefits   

The study will help researchers better understand the interaction between humans and wild and/or managed animals and the virus, Hamer said. She added that study results may be especially applicable in facilities where wildlife is actively managed and fed through human contact.

“This information could be useful not only to captive cervid facilities, but also zoos and other locations where animals are in close contact with humans and are at a much closer distance from one another than what would be normal for them in the wild,” Hamer said. “It’s also important that we understand transmission among captive cervids and other managed animals so we can get a better picture of their role in the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2.”

Other insights from the study

The study confirmed white-tailed deer typically do not get symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 but are easily able to contract and transmit the disease, said Walter Cook, DVM, a study co-author and wildlife veterinarian and clinical associate professor in College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Other study co-authors from the College included doctoral students Chase Nunez and Logan Thomas.  

Cook said other studies have shown certain wildlife to be susceptible to the virus, and what they learned in the new study could help in better understanding how they may transmit the disease.

A&M researchers with Yorkie dog that tested positive for new COVID strain
A Texas A&M-led study was the first worldwide to detect the United Kingdom variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a dog and cat. The animals were in the same Texas household as infected humans. (Photo courtesy College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences)

Previous studies have shown domestic animals such as dogs and house cats can also contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a result of contact with infected humans. Hamer was also principal investigator in a Texas A&M-led study in March of last year that, for the first time worldwide, detected the United Kingdom variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a dog and a cat from the same household in Texas.

The new study will be helpful toward finding out whether there might be onward transmission from infected animals to animals of the same or a different species – or possibly back to people.  

Hamer said vaccine manufacturers have already created veterinary vaccines for animals that are being used in some zoo environments to protect animals shown to develop disease when infected.

“If we find that infection will endanger the life of animals, or if animals can readily spread the virus to humans, then there will be lots of motivation to also consider widespread vaccination of target animals against SARS-CoV-2,” she said. “But this is not the situation, and the most impact right now will be from vaccinating people.”

What about deer hunting and meat preparation/consumption?

Rebecca Dittmar, AgriLife Extension family and community health specialist for food protection management, Kerrville, said safe handling and processing of animals in the field is critical to human and wild game safety.

“Hunters coming in contact with animal carcasses and harvesting wild game should be aware of the possibility of zoonotic diseases and foodborne illness,” Dittmar said.

Deer in the wild are susceptible to chronic wasting disease, tick-borne diseases, brucellosis and other diseases. Results of the new study suggest SARS-CoV-2 transmission might be another factor for consideration in the hunting and harvesting of deer.

Hensley said if a hunter follows recommended guidelines when handling a deer carcass or any other wild game during field dressing and processing, there is little likelihood of acquiring any infectious disease, including SARS-CoV-2.

“Venison is a lean, healthy red meat,” he said. “The accepted recommendation is that venison be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees for steak and 165 for ground venison. This should destroy any pathogen, so again there is little to no risk of transmission.”

Dittmar said AgriLife Extension has publications and instructional videos to help hunters ensure their own safety and the safety of the wild game they harvest. Topics include how to properly field dress an animal, packaging meat for storage, cooking wild game and chronic wasting disease.

She said the publication, “From Field to Plate: Benefits of Locally Harvested Wild Game in Texas and How to Keep It Safe,” provides information on the tools and proper steps needed in processing an animal carcass.

AgriLife Extension also has a short instructional video titled “Hunting Safety: Field Dressing Wild Game” that shows the steps required to safely field dress a large wild game animal.

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The post “Are deer in COVID’s crosshairs?” first appeared on AgriLife Today.

Ocelot reintroduction in Texas

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Texas A&M AgriLife-led study to look at increasing populations of endangered cat

Texas A&M AgriLife researchers are investigating the potential for reintroducing wild ocelot populations to areas of the state where the native cat once roamed.

Ocelot in the wild, peering through vegetation.
A team of collaborators is looking to reestablish a population of ocelots in South Texas to help increase their numbers in the U.S. (Photo courtesy of Fin & Fur Films)

A team of collaborators will study the viability of potential actions designed to reestablish a population of ocelots in South Texas to help increase their numbers in the U.S.

The collaboration includes Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife, in partnership with East Foundation, the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife at the Cincinnati Zoo, the University of Tennessee Comparative and Experimental Medicine Program and Center for Wildlife Health, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The project, “Developing and Assessing Strategies for Reintroducing Ocelots to Historical Texas Habitat,” will explore the feasibility of reintroducing the endangered ocelot to a portion of their historical range in Texas that is distinct from known populations’ currently occupied habitat.

The project’s exploratory research efforts include assessments of:

  • Where ecologically and socio-politically suitable ocelot habitat may occur in South Texas and ultimately identify potential reintroduction sites.
  • The methods for sourcing individuals to create a new population of ocelots.
  • Strategies for their successful release into the wild.
  • Development of long-term management plans for reintroduced ocelots.
  • The long-term viability of a reintroduced population given ecological constraints.

“Historically, we found that the ocelots’ range in the U.S. extended throughout Arizona, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana,” said Roel Lopez, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. “Over the years, however, historic overexploitation from unregulated hunting and trapping plus destruction or loss of habitat left ocelots vulnerable. Now, as we’ve discovered, resident breeding ocelots in the U.S. number fewer than 100 in the wild, making this exploratory process critical.”

Ocelot recovery considerations

With policy initiatives led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the partners will incorporate the results of this research effort with Endangered Species Act, ESA, or Safe Harbor Agreement options. The goal is to allow ocelot recovery efforts to move forward, including reintroductions, while also protecting the rights and interests of private landowners.

After assessing these research results and exploring different ESA regulatory possibilities, the project partners may propose to pursue actual ocelot reintroduction.

“Given the strong desire to provide regulatory relief and assurances to landowners, we anticipate a possible reintroduction proposal would be subject to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rulemaking or permitting process,” said East Foundation CEO Neal Wilkins. “Either tool will include the opportunity for public comment and an extensive coordination effort with landowners interested in participating in ocelot reintroduction efforts.”

Ultimately, an ocelot reintroduction would be aimed at contributing to ocelot recovery under the ESA. Creating a new population of ocelots in Texas would increase the total number of wild, resident ocelots in the state, grow ocelots’ current range, and expand the genetic diversity of ocelots in Texas, Lopez said.

The project is currently only exploring scientific material and existing ocelot research to assess paths forward for ocelot conservation. No decision-making on ocelot reintroduction is occurring at this time, but collaborators are looking for input from interested stakeholders.

“Prior to any decision to proceed with a proposal for reintroduction, the partners will conduct an extensive public outreach effort to identify and address potential concerns regarding a reintroduction effort and to ensure landowner coordination, engagement and, hopefully, support,” said Brittany Wegner, a project specialist with the Natural Resources Institute.

“We invite anyone who is interested in this exploratory process to visit the new Recovering Texas Ocelots website at https://recovertexasocelots.org/ and to sign up to receive project updates via email, which will ensure continued involvement and information as the project proceeds.”

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The post “Study investigates reintroduction of ocelots to native Texas range” first appeared on AgriLife Today.

Learn to Bird 2021 – two locations!

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Multi-day events in October have limited spots, geared toward new birders

Two workshops for beginning birders, part of the “Learn to Bird” series, are slated for October. These events are part of the popular Birding with Extension program.

A woman is outside peering through binoculars looking for birds at the Texas A&M Gardens
The Learn to Bird series will feature both an east and west workshop for 2021. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

Learn to Bird West will take place Oct. 8-10 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Kerr County, and Learn to Bird East runs Oct. 13-15 at Long Acres Ranch in Fort Bend County, just outside Richmond.

Learn to Bird features focused birding trips led by a professional guide and educational presentations by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service faculty.

The cost is $375 for each event, which may be paid in full at time of registration, or a $50 deposit may be made to hold a spot and the remainder can be paid before the event. Registration is at https://tx.ag/LearntoBird.

The cost includes classes and birding, guide fee, all meals and property access fees. Participants are responsible for their own lodging. Each program is capped at 15 participants.

New locations, addition of East event

Kerr Wildlife Management Area and Long Acres Ranch are both new locations for the Birding with Extension program.

A close up of a red bellied woodpecker in a tree
A red-bellied woodpecker is among the many species that beginning birders may get to see up close. (Photo by Bryan Calk)

“We are excited to announce these new locations for Learn to Bird and to share birding with others across the state of Texas,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Val Verde County. Grant said this is the first year there has been an East Texas event.

“Our Birding with Extension guide Bryan Calk will be back joining us for this year’s Learn to Bird programs,” she said. “We are excited to share the experience of birding with those who are interested in getting started in their birding journey.”

Owned and operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerr is a site for wildlife management, research and demonstration. It covers over 6,000 acres of the Edwards Plateau, providing habitat for hundreds of species of native wildlife. In the summer, black-capped vireos breed on the property.

“During Learn to Bird West, we will find a variety of migrating birds, along with resident species such as wild turkey and northern bobwhite at Kerr,” Grant said.

Participants of Learn to Bird East will experience Long Acres Ranch, a privately owned venue spanning 768 acres with 2.5 miles of undeveloped land along the Brazos River. Grant said this location should provide for some excellent birding and a wide range of species due to the location and the undeveloped riverfront.

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The post “New birding workshops announced in West Texas, East Texas” first appeared on AgriLife Today.

Dove season outlook 2021

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Habitat conditions and bird numbers appear promising for Texas dove hunters who can use food and water sources to their advantage, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. 

A mourning dove in dry stubble
Bird populations and habitat quality seem to bode well for a successful dove hunting season. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

John Tomecek, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Thrall, said interest in outdoor activities like hunting continues to trend upward due to COVID-19, and the opening of dove season on Sept. 1 will be most hunters’ first time afield for 2021. 

Tomecek said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists reported hunters should expect a good dove season, according to dove surveys and habitat conditions. But like most dove seasons, hunters who can take advantage of food and water sources will find the most success.

TPWD’s annual dove survey reported Winter Storm Uri had very little effect on overwintering birds, and rains that followed around the state improved habitat browse and cover that could translate into season-long success.

“Our spring dove surveys suggest that there may have been some impacts from the winter storm, particularly in the northern half of the state, but it’s difficult to know the extent since dove populations naturally fluctuate from year to year,” said Owen Fitzsimmons, TPWD Dove Program leader.

He said the most evident impact seems to be in the North Zone, where white-wing estimates are below average overall. 

“I don’t anticipate any long-term impacts,” Fitzsimmons said. “The good rainfall this spring and summer has resulted in good production, which will help offset any losses and allow a quick recovery.” 

He said statewide breeding populations are about average this year, with about 25 million mourning doves and about 12 million white-winged doves.

Dove season success depends on food, water

In a typical year, Tomecek said he recommends prospective hunters look at regional crop and rainfall reports and watch for weather fronts to pinpoint good opportunities to find dove.

Harvests of crops like sorghum, corn and oilseed crops such as sesame and sunflowers can be attractive to migrating dove and positively impact nearby hunters, he said.

Tomecek said widespread and continuous rains in many parts of the state have provided pockets of water typically unavailable to migrating dove. He said this could mean hunter success in those areas may depend more heavily on food sources than in years past.

“More rain than normal may mean more water availability than normal, so dove may not be concentrated around water sources in an average year,” he said. “So, it may come down to how hunters can manipulate crops or native plants to provide an attraction for dove in their area.”

Provide food legally, effectively

It is important to know the rules for manipulating seed and grain crops to put food on the ground as a way to attract migrating dove, Tomacek said. Mourning dove are ground feeders because, unlike white-winged dove, they cannot perch and eat simultaneously.

Basically, baiting is illegal, but manipulating standing crops is legal, Tomecek said.

Tomecek recommends managing any available food source by stringing smaller amounts of the crop for a longer duration to keep birds in the area. He suggests mowing two to three strips per week rather than felling an entire field at once.

“There is always the temptation to shred the whole thing and create a large amount of food at one time,” he said. “But it’s important to manage those resources to your advantage.”

Tomecek said it is too late for this season but that hunters who plant food plots or portions of croplands for dove should consider mixing a variety of seed-producing plants like sorghum, millet and sunflowers. The diversity of food on the ground will make the location a preferred destination for dove.

“Dove are not super-picky eaters, but if you can mix it up, it can make your location stand out,” he said.

If the crop mix is planted in distinct rows, Tomecek recommends cutting the food plot across the grain to improve the diversity of food.

Aside from food and water, Tomecek said hunters should watch for cold fronts that might push birds into the area from further north in the flyway. Watch the weather in states to the north and how it is moving days in advance. Temperature drops can be good indicators that northern birds could be arriving in your area ahead of cooler weather.

“It’s good to know who is planting what and where, but watching the weather in northern states and paying attention to changes is a good idea,” he said. “If you can be in the field just ahead of a cool front and have those other conditions in your favor, it can be a good hunt.”

Safety for new, experienced hunters

Safety should be at the forefront of every hunt, he said. Hunters should always be mindful of the area they can shoot safely, when crossing fences with firearms, or potential hazards in their surroundings such as rattlesnakes, rocky terrain or stepping into another hunter’s line of fire.

Tomecek said it is always a good idea to practice by shooting skeet before the hunt. It gives a chance for experienced shooters to activate their muscle memory and new hunters to receive instruction about tracking birds, leading their shots and avoiding peppering their neighboring hunter.

“Dove hunting is usually a group activity, so always be aware of the people around you,” he said. “It is a good opportunity for experienced hunters to impart some knowledge and for new hunters to experience the outdoors.”

The post “Habitat quality, bird numbers bode well for dove season” first appeared on AgriLife Today as part of the Texas Crop and Weather Report for August 31, 2021.

 

Spring is the time to put out hummingbird feeders

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Learn from the experts how to get the most out of your hummingbird feeder

It’s spring and you’re probably noticing hummingbirds beginning to fly around your garden. If you’re interested in attracting more hummingbirds, a Texas A&M AgriLife expert offers some research-backed tips for bringing more of these adorable birds to your porches and gardens.

Hummingbird at feeder
Hummingbirds may visit your feeders year round, bit primarily March through September. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

According to Emily Grant, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural and natural resources agent for Val Verde County, hummingbird feeders can be kept out all year long in Texas if cared for properly. But if year-round care isn’t for you, now is the time to go ahead and put out your feeders and maintain them through the spring and summer months.

Grant, who works closely on the Birding with Extension programs, works to connect people with the land through the experience of birding—the act of seeking out birds and observing them. You could say she’s an expert at seeking out and attracting birds.

When to put out your hummingbird feeders

Hummingbirds are migratory birds, so where you are in the state, or the nation, influences exactly when you should put up a feeder for maximum effect. As a rule of thumb, Grant suggested putting out feeders a week in advance of the hummingbirds’ arrival. In Texas, that is generally around the beginning of March.

The Davis Mountains have the greatest diversity of hummingbirds in the state of Texas.

If you would like a better idea of when hummingbirds might be close to you, eBird.org keeps track of their typical patterns and sightings.

For some hummingbird lovers, keeping a feeder up year-round is not always a bad idea, particularly in warmer climates.

“You just never know if you may be the lucky one who gets to help feed an overwintering hummingbird all winter long,” said Beth McBroom, one of Grant’s Birding the Border participants and hummingbird enthusiast. 

Preparing sugar-water for hummingbird feeders

To attract hummingbirds time and time again to your feeder, Grant suggests a solution of four parts water to one part table sugar.

Grant explained that it is important to mix up small quantities of water every day or two. There is no need to boil the water if mixing small quantities at a time. However, if making a larger batch, go ahead and boil that water for storage.

“We want to put in enough sugar water for a day, maybe two, and then refresh it, only putting in enough liquid for them to drink during that time frame in order to keep it fresh,” said Grant.

Especially during peak season, it is too hot to leave the juice in there for more than a day or two because it will spoil in the heat and could make the hummingbirds sick.

“The potentially bad thing for you beyond just spoilage,” McBroom said, “is if they taste that spoiled sugar water, they are not going to come back to that flower, or feeder, because it tastes bad. They will remember that is a nasty flower.”

What NOT to do for your hummingbirds

“Never use anything fancy, just use plain white sugar and no coloring in the liquid,” McBroom said. “The coloring on the feeder is enough to attract the birds. And the easiest and most economical thing to use is the sugar out of your pantry.”

It is important that birders remember not to use honey or any alternative sugars when filling feeders.

“When we use honey, we tend to see a lot of bacteria and fungus that will begin to grow in there, which is harmful for our birds,” said Grant. “And contrary to popular belief, there is no need to use red dye; it’s actually recommended against.”

“And contrary to popular belief, there is no need to use red dye; it’s actually recommended against.”

Emily Grant

Where should I hang my hummingbird feeders?

Put them where you can see them!

Often, we put feeders out so we can see the birds that are attracted to them, so place them in front of windows that you frequently look out, Grant said.

When placing your feeders, it’s probably best not to place them right on top of each other, or within extremely close proximity to a seed feeder, so the hummingbirds are not trying to guard and protect their own feeder all the time.

“Hummingbirds are a little bit territorial and feisty little birds, so they don’t like to share,” she said.

Also keep in mind the amount of sunlight or shade that may hit the feeder during the day. The more the feeders are in direct, harsh sunlight, the faster the sugar water will spoil, especially during the summer heat.

Supplemental feeding with native flowers for hummingbirds

Another thing you can do is plant native flowers for your hummingbirds.

“Just about any tubular shaped flower, the hummingbirds will love,” McBroom said.

Often when shopping for flowers, the tags on them will have a picture of a hummingbird to show they are hummingbird attractors. Hummingbirds are also pollinators, so if considering a pollinator garden, many of the plants used will be hummingbird friendly. Be sure to look for native plants, as these will support the greatest number of insects and native pollinators.

“You can also buy or create pollinator pots or build pollinator gardens for those who may not want the daily maintenance of a hummingbird feeder; these attract pollinators like hummingbirds, bees and butterflies,” Grant said. “Creating a good pollinator garden is something that can be very effective in supporting all of your pollinators.”

Typical hummingbirds you may see

Depending on where you are located, different hummingbirds may be more likely to visit and be seen at your feeders or in your garden.

In the eastern half of Texas, the ruby-throated hummingbird is most common. Black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds are common in the western half of Texas, while buff-bellied hummingbirds are prevalent in the Rio Grande Valley and along the coast.

So, be sure to keep an eye out as the hummingbirds begin to arrive and enjoy their beauty and personality as they stop for nourishment on your feeders and flowers.

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The post “Spring is the time to put out hummingbird feeders” first appeared on AgriLife Today.

Dr. Tomeček leads National Wild Pig Task Force

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AgriLife Extension’s Tomeček named chair-elect of National Wild Pig Task Force

When it comes to “wild pig wars,” John Tomeček, Ph.D, has been leading the charge in Texas. Now he’s been tapped to take his leadership skills to the national level as the chair-elect of the National Wild Pig Task Force.

John Tomecek photo - to lead charge against wild pigs
John Tomecek, Ph.D. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

Tomeček, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Thrall, said AgriLife Extension and its predecessor agencies have been leaders in wild pig management for a very long time, starting in many ways with the work of longtime AgriLife Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist Billy Higginbotham, Ph.D.

Michael Bodenchuk, director of Texas Wildlife Services and Texas state director, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, San Antonio, said when Higginbotham retired, Tomeček stepped into two roles. One was a professional role at wild pig management conferences, providing good science; the other was on the wild pig scene, leading efforts on research and public outreach.

“John’s drive, desire and leadership potential led to his nomination to the national task force leadership position,” said Bodenchuk, who made the nomination. “John has leveraged state and cooperative funding to develop better educational programs, refine methods for collecting damage data and demonstrate successful methods to Texans. It was natural for him to lead the National Task Force.”

Tomeček first assumed a leadership role in the war on wild pigs when he was asked to co-chair the Texas Wild Pig Task Force, which coordinates with government agencies and commodity organizations to help direct management, research and outreach activities. This group also provides information and feedback to the Texas Legislature as requested.

As wild pig issues grew across the nation, a dedicated Wild Pig Conference was born, where scientists from across the U.S. exchange information. After a number of years, the National Wild Pig Task Force was formed to act as a national coordinating body to advance the science of wild pig management across the U.S.

Connecting field research to the halls of Congress

The task force is a technical, scientific and leadership alliance of state, federal, provincial and private conservation partners working to reduce free-ranging populations of wild pigs in North America.

According to the group, management of invasive wild pigs has arguably become one of the greatest wildlife management challenges facing natural resource professionals and landowners. The damage these animals cause to forestry, agriculture and natural resources has been tremendous and is often measured in billions of dollars of damage each year. 

Texas has been the leader in wild pig issues and management for quite a long time, Tomeček said.

Group of wild pigs cross an open range in front of a pasture of cows.
Wild pigs cross a field. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter)

“That’s good and bad,” he said. “In many ways, we are the leader because we have the worst pig problems in the country. At the same time, this allows us to be a leader in helping other states. We can say ‘Here’s where you’re at; your pig problems are Texas circa 1987. Here’s what you need to do, and here are the pitfalls ahead.’ It allows those of us in Texas to guide meaningful pig management across the country.”

In addition to coordinating with those interested in wild pig management, a very important function of the task force is the work it does to provide unbiased information to state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, Tomeček said.

“When things come up in those bodies, it generally relates to policy makers debating wild pig control related to issues such as health and human safety, animal agriculture and health, protection of food securities and national security through food,” he said. “Also, when there are management approaches that are being researched and there are questions about the humaneness and efficacy of control methods, we act as a scientific body that can provide information without any vested interest.”

He said the task force allows the best information and people to be gathered quickly in response to elected officials seeking information or support or who just need to sit down with somebody and get a feel for what needs to be done.

For instance, Tomeček said, many local governments and even state governments might say, “Let’s not invest money in controlling pigs, hunters will fix this problem for us or we’ll just have a bounty program.”

He said the task force has pulled together white papers to summarize the knowledge on those things and say, “No, in fact, bounties don’t fix the problem. We can demonstrate that with science. And, no, hunters have not fixed the problem in many states and let us give you an example of why.” Tomeček said this helps avoid mistakes of the past, and instead, employ the best science-based management available.

The task force also acts as a non-governmental sounding board for elected officials, Tomeček said.

“The national task force also serves as a way to disseminate good management practices when one of our members has developed an approach that is superior,” he said. “We act as a coordinated group to get that information out to other states or even federal agencies.”

AgriLife Extension a leader for Texas

Tomeček’s research focuses on methods to improve trapping efficacy, new styles of traps, methods of excluding pigs from areas using innovative fencing techniques.

“All that is good and very boots on the ground, very technical,” Tomeček said. “But what I’ve tried to put my arms around more recently within the pig world is the people aspect.”

He said he has conducted several large-scale surveys of hunters, agricultural producers and other stakeholders – the largest study of its kind from the human-wild pig interactions standpoint.

“We were able to ask questions that really were impactful in terms of how we try to get people to manage pigs. Because the problem is this is not something any amount of government money can fix – we have to have the private landowner willing to do the work.”

So, Tomeček said, AgriLife Extension personnel when going out with outreach and education have been able to ask, Do you actually manage pigs and why or why not?

“We were able to identify key elements that are barriers to people managing pigs,” he said. “Sometimes it is ‘Gosh, it’s a lot of time or it’s a lot of money’ or sometimes it’s ‘I don’t feel like I have the technical knowledge.’ So, we were able to help solve the people side of that equation and help push management of wild pigs in Texas as well as nationwide over the hump we’ve been in, and we are starting to break new ground.”

In addition to his work on the Texas and National Wild Pig Task Forces, Tomeček is also involved in the national Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, which was funded in the last farm bill and authorized by Congress. The purpose of the program is to try to finally answer the question of what it takes to eradicate a pig population in a given area or at least drive numbers down so that the damage is negligible. This represents a very intense, multistate efforts.

“That was an honor, when the USDA tapped me on the shoulder and said we need you to lead this effort and help us get our arms around this,” he said. “My group is working hand-in-hand with USDA to determine the value of taking control has been and what it takes to get that management done, as well as working out the finer details of saying if you want to eradicate pigs you have to do X, Y, Z, in this order, in this way.

“Our work will ultimately be used by Congress as they debate how to fund this in the future, so it has pushed my group onto the national scene. It also served to establish not only Texas, but also Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, as leaders in this arena.”

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Virtual Birding Seminar – Dec. 15

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Registration cost will benefit young birders at Rio Diablo Birding Camp

A Virtual Birding Seminar, hosted by Texas Ornithological Society and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will be presented from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 15.

Birding with Extension participants can join Virtual Birding Seminar
Birding with Extension participants will need to go online this year for the Virtual Birding Seminar. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Susan Himes)

The program will be on the Zoom platform, which is best viewed from a computer or tablet. There will also be a call-in number for participants who cannot access Zoom and want to listen in. Online registration is required to get the Zoom link or for call-in participation.

The program is focused on birds and birding in South Texas but anyone with an interest in the topic is welcome to participate.

The cost is $25 for Zoom or call-in. The entire registration cost will go to the Rio Diablo Birding Camp, a new youth program launching in 2021.

Online seminar presenters are current students who will share information from continuing or completed research, said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., an AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management based in Uvalde. Presenters will be Madeleine Thornley of Texas A&M University, Marky Mutchler of Louisiana State University and Liam Wolff of Stephen F. Austin State University.

“Everything presented in the seminar will be new, cutting-edge information on birds,” Frank said. “The species discussed will be the white-tailed kite, Bell’s vireo and Bachmann’s sparrow.”

Frank said the Birding with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service initiative of Texas A&M AgriLife is introducing the new Rio Diablo Birding Camp for youth 14-18 years old in the summer of 2021.

“We will travel throughout southwest Texas to bird as well as provide camp participants with educational information related to Texas history, ecology and culture,” she said. “AgriLife Extension and the Texas Ornithological Society are committed to keeping the cost of registration below $1,000 for this week-long camp.”

Frank said the seminar will raise funds that will help lower the cost of the camp so more may attend.  

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The post “South Texas Virtual Birding Seminar set for Dec. 15” first appeared on AgriLife Today.

2021 Birding the Border details!

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Devils River, Kickapoo Cavern, benefit dinner among highlights

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has announced additional details of the 2021 Birding the Border event, which is part of the Birding with Extension Program.

Group of Birding with Extension participants in the hills looking at birds with cameras and binoculars.
Birding the Border will feature a photography track for 2021. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Susan Himes)

The event takes place April 29-May 2 and will feature birding trips to a mix of private, restricted-access and public lands in Kinney and Val Verde counties.

Highlights of the 2021 program include guided trips to Devils River State Natural Area, Kickapoo Springs, Fort Clark Springs, numerous privately owned ranches and a “Birds, Bats and Owls” benefit dinner.

“We have had a year to prepare and adjust and should social distancing and other guidelines still be in place, we will be equipped to abide by all rules and regulations while still being able to offer our participants an amazing experience,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent for Vale Verde County.

The cost of an event registration pass is $50. It includes all seminars, which will be held April 30-May 1 at the Del Rio Civic Center and feature AgriLife Extension experts. The cost ranges from $100-$145 for day trips led by experts and professional guides.

There are also spouse-of-birder passes available to allow participants to bring a plus-one to the seminars and social events. If you prefer to register by phone, call Teri Gaston at 830-278-9151, ext. 283.

“As much as we were bummed to cancel the 2020 event, we have taken this year to continue to work with landowners on management practices that benefit birds,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde. “We hope that 2021 will be an even better experience for our participants than past years, and we are excited to be able to take attendees to beautiful locations and offer one-of-a-kind experiences.”

Grant said that while the beginner’s track is full, there is still space in the photography track and daily passes for a wide variety of birding and outdoor experiences are still available.

“The Birding with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension team has selected some target species that participants could see on the trip and have made them into collectible stickers for this year’s Birding the Border,” explained Grant, who is also a founder of the Birding with Extension program. “We want to thank stickeryou.com for making this a new, fun and exciting activity for our Birding with Extension programs.”

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Record attendance at Texas Master Naturalist 2020 meeting

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AgriLife Extension program welcomes more than 1,170 participants virtually

More than 1,170 attendees tuned in virtually to the annual meeting hosted by the Texas Master Naturalist Program on Oct. 14-17 to learn about a variety of topics relating to nature, natural resource management and conservation.

A cougar appears on the big screen with a smaller inset screen of a man talking virtually at the Texas Master Naturalist meeting.
Travis Longcore, Ph.D., virtually shares with Texas Master Naturalist attendees the effects human-generated light in nighttime environments has on wildlife and provided tools to promote a safe and healthy night environment for all species. (Texas Master Naturalist photo)

The Texas Master Naturalist Program, co-sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,  was established to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for Texas.

“We were blown away by the response from this year’s event,” Mary Pearl Meuth, assistant state coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist Program, said. “We knew that hosting the annual meeting virtually was going to be a big shift for our regular attendees. Because of the transition, we were only expecting about 200-300 registrants. We hosted a few virtual coffee chats before the event to give potential attendees practice using the online platform and it was an overwhelming success.”

Among those in attendance at this year’s virtual meeting were certified Master Naturalists, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists and AgriLife Extension specialists, Texas Parks and Wildlife professionals, university faculty, community leaders and nature lovers from all over the state and nation.

In the wake of COVID-19, themes of resilience, adaptability and the importance of community rang through headsets and computer speakers as, for the first time in program history, participants tuned in from all across the country.  

A week of learning and growth for participants

The four-day event featured 80 sessions for the record number of attendees to choose from on topics ranging from plant conservation, community engagement, birding, bats and light pollution to citizen science, wildlife photography and social media use.

The event also featured a variety of keynote speakers, including Jaime Gonzalez, program director with Houston Healthy Cities and the Texas Chapter of The Nature Conservancy; Merlin Tuttle, Ph.D., founder of Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation; Travis Longcore, Ph.D., associate adjunct professor at the University of California Los Angeles Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; and Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., author and professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware.

Prior to the event, the Texas Master Naturalist Program provided attendees with the opportunity to partake in a day of remote field sessions, where five Houston-regional chapters led virtual explorations of must-see Texas locations for naturalists looking for outdoor destinations.

In the evenings, special programming was held, including quiz bowl competitions and a preview of the documentary film “Doc and Martha,” which highlighted one couple’s journey—Doc and Martha McAlister—as Master Naturalists and educators on Matagorda Island.

The program concluded with an annual award ceremony where winners from the chapter projects, photo, art and media contests were announced and Master Naturalists were honored for their service and dedication to the program.

Among those honored was Marie Asscherick from the Galveston Bay Area for her 15,000 hours of service to her surrounding communities through the Texas Master Naturalist program.

Over 300 attendees received milestone achievement awards at the event, which collectively represented over 195,000 hours of volunteer service.

Texas Master Naturalists remain resilient

Despite a year of unanticipated challenges, Texas Master Naturalist chapters and volunteers shared ways in which they continued to safely show up and share their love of nature with others amidst the pandemic.

“It is so inspiring to see all of the different ways chapters have coped with the pandemic and still found ways to learn and teach,” said Heartwood Chapter attendee Gwen Lanning.

As this year’s meeting adjourned, Texas Master Naturalists and conservationists across the state were left with a call to act—to be stewards in their local communities and to share the knowledge they had soaked up over the week with others.

“You are an important cog in the wheel of conservation,” featured speaker Tallamy told attendees.

While Texas Master Naturalists may be tying a bow on this year’s event, they are already planning ahead for next year. Those interested in attending next year’s annual meeting can mark their calendars for Oct. 21-24.

However, people don’t have to wait until next year to take action and exercise stewardship in their own communities. To learn more about becoming a Master Naturalist or get involved with a local chapter, visit the Texas Master Naturalist Program website for more information.

“We are excited to see how our Master Naturalists will incorporate what they’ve learned from this year’s meeting into their own communities to become agents for change and stewards of our state’s resources,” Meuth said.

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Prevent wildfires during hunting season

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Texas A&M Forest Service urges Texans to use caution outdoors

With hunting season underway, many hunters and campers across the state are headed to the wild outdoors. However, this greater movement of people into wildland areas increases the potential for human-caused wildfires to start.

People and their activities cause more than 90% of wildfires in Texas, increasing the need for hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to use caution outdoors and be mindful of activities that may cause a wildfire.

campfire burns behind two men dressed in hunting gear with guns
Take extra precautions when using campfires while hunting.

Winter weather is beginning to creep in across the state, having an impact on wildfire conditions of which hunters should be aware. Freezing temperatures in the West will begin to cure grasses, making wildfires easier to start. Although there is no elevated wildfire weather forecasted, the possibility of wildfire is always a concern. And it only takes one spark to start a wildfire. 

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) wants Texas hunters to have a safe and successful hunting season,” said Chris Schenck, TPWD Wildlife Division state fire program leader. “One part of that safe season is to practice good campfire safety. Smokey Bear’s message is still very important to Texas hunters.”

Texas A&M Forest Service and the TPWD encourage hunters to be cautious with campfires, as well as all activities that could spark a wildfire, including using certain ammunition. 

Hunters should know their ammo. Jacketed bullets and high velocity ammunition should be avoided when fire danger is high, and target practice should occur over dirt or gravel.

Avoid accidentally starting a wildfire while hunting

Other tips to help avoid accidentally starting a wildfire while hunting and camping include:  

  • Avoid driving over and parking on dry grass because the heat from your vehicle can easily ignite it. Always be ready to put out a fire should one start. Have a shovel and water with you in camp and have a fire extinguisher with you at all times.
  • Always check with local officials for burn bans or other outdoor burning restrictions. Each county in Texas sets and lifts their own burn bans. Make sure you know your county’s burn ban status and if it restricts open flames and other heat-causing activities such as using charcoal. 
  • When using a cooking fire or campfire, never leave it unattended. Always make sure the fire is completely out by drowning it, stirring it and feeling to ensure that it is out cold before you leave.
  • If you are taking a trailer out on your adventures, make sure that the tires are properly inflated, chains will not contact the road, and that any loose metal will not continually hit anything else, all of which can cause sparks.

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