Golden eagle prey consists primarily of small mammals such as prairie dogs, rabbits and ground squirrels, but they will consume birds and reptiles when they can catch them. Large mammals are fair game too. Golden eagles sometimes attack large mammals. Mule deer and pronghorn of all ages have been observed being attacked or killed by eagles. In fact, documented kills of bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes being killed exist. They also eat carrion.

Many ranchers are not fond of golden eagles. They occasionally kill calves, sheep, pigs and goats. Although attacks on animals that weigh more than about 35 pounds are uncommon, they are not unheard of. The photos below show an adult golden eagle attacking and killing a pronghorn antelope near Rawlins, Wyoming. It was assumed that the pronghorn was not healthy, and the photos are quite gruesome, but they do show the ability of the amazing ability and tenacity of the golden eagle.

As the photos show, golden eagles grab deer and pronghorn anywhere on the head, neck, or body, frequently grasping from the front or side. They kill adult animals with numerous talon stabs into the upper ribs and back. Their feet and talons are well adapted to closing around the backbone, with the talons puncturing large internal arteries, frequently the aorta in front of the kidneys.

The major cause of death is shock produced by massive internal hemorrhage from punctured arteries or collapse of the lungs when the rib cage is punctured. Young animals die from shock and loss of blood as they are eviscerated as golden eagles grab them and simply start eating. Where eagles prey on domestic animals, they usually take the young, but some eagles become persistent predators of livestock as large as 500 pounds. Nature is both cruel and amazing. The golden eagle because of regulations and sound wildlife management practices, but it’s easy to see how this species can have a huge impact livestock producers.

Eligible entities must submit applications on or before March 1, 2012, to receive consideration for conservation easement funding in fiscal year 2012. Only eligible entities may submit applications of eligible farm and ranch land. Eligible entities are State, Tribal, or local governments and non-government organizations that meet specific requirements. The entities must have an established farm and ranch land protection program, have the authority to hold and manage conservation easements; have the capacity to acquire, manage, and enforce the easements; and the funds to match the Federal contribution.

The FRPP can provide up to fifty percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement on the farm or ranch. Conservation and preservation of valuable farms and ranches is one way of habitat management, but it takes people working together. At least fifty percent of the appraised fair market value of the easement must be provided by the eligible entity. Landowners may accept less than the appraised fair market value of the easement; the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price the landowners are willing to accept is considered a landowner donation.

The eligible entity must provide at least twenty-five percent of the purchase price in cash. The eligible entity must also secure the appraisal, survey, and title search, prepare the conservation easement deed, and pay for the closing.

Land proposed for conservation funding in FRPP must meet one of three eligibility categories: contain at least fifty percent prime and unique farmland soils and soils of Statewide and local importance; contain historic or archeological resources; or contain land that supports the farm and ranch land protection policies of state or local programs.

Owners of the eligible lands must have an adjusted gross income of less than one million dollars and be in compliance with the USDA highly erodible land and wetland compliance requirements. FRPP has enrolled over 4,900 acres on 9 farms and ranches in Texas since Congress first authorized the program in 1996. More information including the application forms and ranking criteria can be found right here

The six whooping cranes at Granger Lake are actually two families of cranes. The fact that these birds are hanging out around the lake this year are stirring up the curiosity of bird watchers across the state. About two months ago, reports started coming in to Granger Lake Manager, James Chambers, that a family of three whooping cranes, two adults and a juvenille, had been spotted nearby. Shortly after the initial whooping crane reports, another family of cranes found out about Granger Lake.

Texas Parks and Wildlife has a particular interest in the birds because they typically winter near Aransas, Texas. Why are these birds here? Biologist believe these birds have found what they are looking for, food. Whooping cranes eat clams, insects and even waste grain found in agricultural fields. The drought of 2010 has left Granger Lake at very low levels, exposing plenty of clams for the whoopers. In addition, many corn fields were simply mowed-over last year, leaving plenty of corn for the birds.

The Williamson Audubon Society said, “Tthe area has always been a great place to bird watch, but now that Whooping Cranes are in the area, the excitement has grown. They’re so large. You can’t miss them. If you go to Friendship Park here on Granger Lake and look around, eventually you’ll see three of them at least. Maybe even all six.”

Whooping cranes winter in Texas and typically begin their return trip to northwestern Canada in late March to early April. Will the whooping cranes at Granger Lake stay until then? Only time will tell, but they’ve been there for a while now. Unless the temperatures get really cold and force them further south, it looks like the whoopers will be getting a lot of attention.

Christmas Day brought four inches of snow on the High Plains which encouraged geese to decoy better. Larger Canada geese are showing with frozen ponds in the northern states. Snow geese and Canadas are solid on roost ponds near Etter. Duck numbers continue to build in the Panhandle, with more mallards showing on playas. Many divers are hanging out on reservoirs and other deep water ponds. Feed lot ponds are good for gadwalls and wigeons. Recent snow runoff has put water in many dry playas. Outfitters have said hunter participation has been down. Prospects are good in the near term for Panhandle duck hunting action.

In Texas’s North Zone, duck hunters have taken good numbers of mallards in sloughs, creeks and river bottoms, especially with improved habitat conditions as of a result of recent rains, reported biologist Jared Laing. Colder weather and frozen waterways to the north have encouraged more mallards to cross the state line. Scouting has been crucial, said Laing, with birds moving about with more water on the ground. Canvasbacks and other divers have been steady on Lake O’Pines, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork.

The duck hunting in the backwaters of Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend and the Sulfur River have produced good mallard shoots as well. Gadwalls and wigeons have been taken in shallow coves of lakes and reservoirs. Wood ducks have been steady at first light in wet timber. Hunting remained steady around the zone boundaries of IH-10 where some areas received 2-4 inches during the holiday weekend. Freshwater impoundments have held pintails, wigeons, shovelers and green-winged teal. Prospects are good until the end of the season.

In Texas’ South Zone, the coast offers the most. It continues to produce steady duck shoots on the prairies, marshes and bays. Gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and pintails have been steady near Eagle Lake, Garwood and Wharton. Most of the upper coast received two to four inches of rain over the holiday weekend. Sheet water has covered many dry rice fields which has encouraged ducks to work goose spreads. Bay hunters enjoyed steady shoots near Port O’Connor and Rockport. Solid shoots have come from the Lower Laguna Madre around Port Isabel and Port Mansfield.

Pintails, redheads, bluebills, gadwalls and wigeons have made up the bags. Hunters in Trinity Bay have struggled the past few weeks as ducks are here today and gone tomorrow. Marsh hunters in Orange County have seen good numbers of gadwalls and teal throughout the season. Snow goose hunting has been good with wind and a low ceiling. Absent have been large concentration of small Canadas that take up the slack for call-shy specklebellies. Sandhill crane numbers are steady. Most cranes have been harvested by goose hunters in white spreads. Duck and goose prospects are really good until the end of the season, especially for marsh hunters.

Duck Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the duck hunting season in each zone). All other duck species: 6.

The purpose of the prescribed burn alliance will be to safely increase the use of prescribed burning, according Roel Lopez, the institute’s associate director. Lopez said prescribed burning, or the controlled application of fire to the naturally occurring buildup of fuels in a predetermined area, has been used for years to improve and manage forests and rangelands, improve wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of devastating wildfires.

“This statewide alliance, comprised of 11 prescribed burn associations, is particularly important after the wildfire season Texas just had,” he said. “Texas reported over 30,000 wildfires with nearly 4 million acres burned. More than 2,000 homes and an additional 2,000 other types of structures were lost.”

“The alliance will promote education and training, and increase the practice of safe prescribed burn techniques,” said Larry Joe Doherty, the alliance’s new president. “Prescribed burning techniques safely applied can reduce the dangers of fuel buildups that lead to the terror of wildfires and its destructive forces. At the same time, we are honoring our duties as good land stewards through wildlife habitat management and and increasing agricultural production.”

Jim Kenton, alliance vice president, said the alliance will work collaboratively with private landowners, county governments, federal and state agencies, and natural resource organizations to foster the acceptance and use of prescribed burning in Texas. “Many of the devastating fires were especially dangerous because volatile fuels had been allowed to accumulate in forests and rangelands, becoming detrimental to habitat and the wildlife found there,” Kenton said.

Individual ranchers and range managers, federal and state agencies, The Nature Conservancy and wildlife associations have all used prescribed burns and a habitat management tool sporadically since the 1970s, according to alliance officials. In 1997, Texas’ first prescribed burn association, the Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burn Association, was established.

Before the newly formed alliance, the 11 prescribed burn associations, which are typically nonprofits owned and operated by more than 1,000 private landowners, worked mostly on their own, Doherty said. “Without uniformity in training and using privately purchased fire equipment, they assisted their neighbors in safely conducting prescribed burns,” he said.

Lopez said the institute, AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension received a funds through a Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant to help form the alliance. Funds also were used to design and develop a prescribed fire website to serve the burn associations and develop web-based training for individuals wanting to attain prescribed-burning certification.

Many private landowners understand the benefits of prescribed fire, but lack the experience or confidence to frequently apply prescribed burns,” Lopez said in reference to the need for training for this highly beneficial habitat management tool. The prescribed burn alliance is about making Texas lands safer, not about money making. If you are interested in wildlife and habitat management, learn more about the proper use of prescribed fire by contacting your local burn association or Texas’ burn alliance.