November, 2009 - Wildlife Management Pro

Mountain Lion Shot in Junction, Texas

This mountain lion was killed in early November 2009 about 6 miles south of Junction, Texas. The hunter was looking to harvest a white-tailed deer during Texas’ General Season when this cougar walked by. The photo was taken at Kimble Processing in Junction. Mountain lion sightings and kills have increased in recent years as the cats expand their range eastward again.

Mountain lions, also commonly referred to as cougars, pumas, or catamounts, have a large distribution across North and Central America. In fact, the Mountain lion has the widest distribution of any wild cat, from Canada to South America. Formerly distributed throughout North America, the Mountain lion is now found mostly in the remote areas of the western U.S., as well as western Canada and much of Mexico. A small lion population still exists in southern Florida, where the species is considered an endangered animal. Continue reading Mountain Lion Shot in Junction, Texas

Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife

An updated and revised version of the book “Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife” will be available through Texas A&M Press and fine booksellers everywhere beginning on November 14, 2009. Author Kelly Conrad Bender of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Urban Wildlife Program worked with many partners to create the update, which comes with a new companion DVD. As Bender says, “No more long, confusing tables in the back of the book–all that has been replaced by a convenient, easy-to-use DVD that will help you look for just the right grouping of plants for your Wildscape.”

She credits “a huge debt of gratitude” to the Capital Area Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists, who were instrumental in completing the DVD. For those who want to manage small acreage properties, there’s even new a “Virtual Biologist” in the Planning section of the DVD that asks questions about the landowner’s goals and property, then produces a habitat management plan consistent with 1-d-1 tax valuation, wildlife option. Continue reading Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife

State Battles Giant Salvinia at Toledo Bend

During the first weekend in November (2009), helicopter crews sprayed EPA-approved herbicides on floating mats of giant salvinia and water hyacinth at Toledo Bend Reservoir, where recent floods had flushed the floating, invasive water weeds into more areas of the rain-swollen reservoir, affecting some 2,000 total surface acres. Late last week, the worst infestations were reported on the Texas portion of the reservoir, with many plants being pushed by southerly winds against the shore and into small south-facing coves, some of which were 100 percent covered.

The herbicide application was done by crews from North Star Helicopter, Inc., of Jasper under contract with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Officials had said the spraying of salvinia might take up to seven days depending on weather, but the company started Saturday morning and completed work by mid-day Sunday using two copters equipped with special spraying gear. It will now take several weeks for plants to turn brown, sink to the bottom and die. Continue reading State Battles Giant Salvinia at Toledo Bend

Mountain Lion Shot Near Laredo

Here are a couple of photos of a mountain lion harvested near Laredo, Texas, by white-tailed deer hunters during Texas’ General Hunting Season. The hunters were hunting on their deer lease when the big cat showed up on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Texas has many mountain lions sighted in the Trans-Pecos portions of west Texas, but South Texas ranks second in cougar sightings.

A mountain lion has never been known to attack a person in Texas. However, mountain lions have attacked small children when left unattended in mountain lion habitat in other states. Mountain lions attack by ambushing their prey. They either suffocate or break their prey’s neck. Lions prefer big game, but will eat smaller mammals if circumstances permit.

Poisoned Deer in Texas

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are investigating an incident involving the misuse of the pesticide Temik in the southwestern area of Eastland County, Texas, in early October. Corn seed was treated with Temik and placed in and around some peanut fields near the intersection of U.S. 183 and County Road 173 south of Cisco. TDA is investigating why the corn was treated with Temik and distributed in this location.

The contamination of the peanut fields has killed a number of feral hogs, at least one white-tailed deer and two birds. Authorities have since taken steps to remove the contaminated corn, and no dead animals have been found at the site since the investigation began. Authorities are advising deer hunters to refrain from harvesting deer or feral hogs or eating deer or hog meat taken from within a 5-mile radius around the intersection of U.S. 183 and County Road 173 south of Cisco. However, TPWD is encouraging hunters to continue to enjoy hunting elsewhere in Eastland County and surrounding counties. Continue reading Poisoned Deer in Texas

Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry

With the help of Kansas deer hunters, meat processors, and private donors, Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (KSHFH) annually provides thousands of meals to those in need. The Kansas deer firearm season, which runs from December 2 through the 13 this year, is the busiest time for the organization. Hunters donate hundreds of white-tailed and mule deer and occasionally an elk or even a bison. The organization supplies meat to nearly 100 food banks across the state by working in cooperating Kansas meat processors.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) makes it easy to help. When outdoorsmen and women buy hunting licenses, permits, or stamps, they can donate $2 to support this Hunters Feeding the Hungry, which the agency collects for KSHFH. To find the nearest meat processor involved in this program, go online to this site and click on “Lockers.”

Youth Hunting at Texas Wildlife Management Areas

Hundreds of kids and adults headed out to various Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife management areas (WMA) this past weekend to do a little hunting. It was the first weekends for youth-only waterfowl and youth-only (gun) deer hunts. Even with the heavy rain and flooding that closed a few WMAs located in East Texas, those sites hosted youth hunters with good success.

The Justin Hurst WMA near Lake Jackson had 84 hunters killed about 1.5 birds each on Saturday. Ducks harvested were primarily bluewings and shovelers. Only 12 hunters showed up the second day and each of that youth bagged about a bird each, but they got some valuable experience in the field. Continue reading Youth Hunting at Texas Wildlife Management Areas