Predators & Varmints - Wildlife Management Pro

Photos of Rattlesnakes Mating!

Rattlesnakes "dance" during breeding

When it comes to heading outdoors, you just never know what you will see. That’s the great thing about getting outside and walking around diverse habitats. Not only do healthy plant communities provide great wildlife habitat, but they also hosts the really cool stuff—the wildlife! I’ve always found that the best time to view any wildlife species is during the breeding or mating season. This is because animals are on the move and often times not paying much attention to things, such as me, around them.

I guess before I continue much further, I understand that many people do not enjoy snakes, especially rattlesnakes, but they are actually very interesting animals. But once you get over “they can kill you” thing, I think most people will appreciate the role that rattlesnakes play in their environment. Well, at least to some extent. These cold-blooded killers are not really the aggressive, come-and-get-you reptiles that people make them out to be. Continue reading Photos of Rattlesnakes Mating!

All About the Ocelot

Ocelots are interesting cats primarily found in suitable habitat in South and Central America, but are also live in the southern tip of North America. Ocelots are about twice the size (25 to 30 pounds) of the average house cat, but much more regal, at least in my opinion. The ocelot is a sleek animal with a gorgeous dappled coat that even more handsome than the more common bobcat. These nocturnal felines use keen sight and hearing to hunt rabbits, rodents, fish, and frogs.

Like other cats, ocelots are adapted for eating meat. They have pointed canine teeth used to deliver a killing bite, and sharp molars that can tear food with ease. Ocelots tear their food to pieces and swallow it whole. In addition, their rough and tough tongues can clean the bones of their prey spotless.

Ocelots are quite nimble, with the ability to take to the trees and hunt monkeys and birds. Unlike many cats, ocelots do not avoid water and can swim very well. Most ocelots live under the leafy canopies of South American rain forests, but they also inhabit brushland habitat in Mexico and can be found as far north as South Texas. These cats can adapt to human habitats and are sometimes found in the vicinity of villages or other settlements.

Ocelots have very striking patterns on their fur, which has made them the target of market hunters. As such, they are quite rare, including in Texas where they are endangered. In fact, ocelots are protected in the United States and most other countries where they are found.

Ocelot Conservation Festival

Celebrate at the Ocelot Conservation Festival

It’s time to celebrate ocelot! Learn about the Texas ocelot, the main focus of an exciting festiva that is taking place in South Texas! Visitors can enjoy educational programs on fishing, hunting, and bird watching that compliment fun puppet shows, silent auctions, and the opportunity to see some wonderful wildlife species! There is something for everyone at the Ocelot Conservation Festival, a unique event whose proceeds go to benefit research and conservation of the ocelot. For more information, contact the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge by phone 956-748-3607.

A Look at Badger Behavior

Badgers really are solitary animals. The typical population density is about 12 animals per square mile. Badgers are nocturnal, meaning they are mainly active at night. During the winter months, they tend to be inactive. However, badgers are not true hibernators, but spend much of the winter in cycles of torpor that usually last about 29 hours. During torpor body temperatures fall to about 48 degrees F and the heart beats at about half the normal rate. They emerge from their dens on warm days in the winter. Badger behavior is physical as well as physiological. Badgers are digging machines. Their powerfully built forelimbs allow them to tunnel rapidly through the soil, and apparently through other harder substances as well. There are anecdotal accounts of badgers emerging from holes they have excavated through blacktopped pavement and even two inch thick concrete!

Badger burrows are constructed mainly in the pursuit of prey, but they are also used for sleeping. A typical badger den may be as far a 9 feet below the surface, contain about 30 feet of tunnels, and have an enlarged chamber for sleeping. Badgers use multiple burrows within their home range, and they may not use the same burrow more than once a month. In the summer months they may dig a new burrow each day. That is just a bit about badgers!

Learn with Texas Parks and Wildlife

This month in Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine readers can meet the urban bobcat and learn how it has adapted successfully to life in the suburbs. The magazine also uncovers the mysteries of Enchanted Rock, exploring the legends and history behind the enigmatic landmark. To gear up for the holidays, the 2008 Gear Guide by Russell A. Graves offers must-have items for a nature lover’s wish list. In Legend, Lore, & Legacy, Wyman Meinzer takes a thoughtful look at how hunting has changed in recent decades. Three Days in the Field takes Larry Bozka to Port Mansfield — the ultimate sleepy fishing village. For kids (or anyone else) who may wonder where animals call home, the Keep Texas Wild education section explores how animals create shelter.

Predator Control and Quail Habitat Management Face Off

Bobwhite quail

The relative merits of predator control and habitat development as bobwhite quail management practices have long been debated. A recent study in North Carolina sheds some light on this contentious issue.

The study took place during 1997–1999 on the coastal plain. This region consists of about 40% farmland devoted to soybeans, corn, cotton, wheat, and tobacco. The researchers selected 3 areas. In each area, they selected 4 farms. One farm served as the experimental control (no management), one received only predator control, one received only field border development, and one received both predator control and field border development. Continue reading Predator Control and Quail Habitat Management Face Off

Information on Hantavirus

Hantavirus is carried by certain species of rats and mice and the illness is rare. Infected rodents shed the virus in their urine, droppings and saliva. The virus can be transmitted to people when infected rat or mouse urine, saliva, droppings or nesting materials are stirred up, temporarily aerosolizing the virus, which can be breathed in by humans. Continue reading Information on Hantavirus