Wildlife management earns statewide recognition
Faculty, staff, student research, contributions earn awards from Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society
1
Apr
Journal
6
Mar
Texas A&M AgriLife fills critical knowledge gaps on javelina
NRI researchers are laying the foundation for the science-based management and conservation of javelinas, or collared peccary. Until recently, this native species seemed overshadowed by other Texas wildlife and plagued by misconceptions.
14
Feb
The Managed Lands Deer Program and Families Who Hunt in Texas
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute hosts The Land Steward Podcast each month with specialists in the field with diverse backgrounds to have relatable conversations about land and wildlife stewardship. In Episode 7, BW, our podcast host was able to bring the show on the road to her family’s ranch in the Hill Country to share candid interactions and discussions about managing deer populations as a family and how that experience has shifted the mindset on the ranch.
10
Feb
The Winter Sourcebook Volume VI is here
Directly from the field, the Winter 2025 NRI Sourcebook is here. Each season, we publish a digital collection of recently published peer-reviewed scientific publications, research reports, and resources developed to support the improvement of conservation, natural resource management, and private land stewardship. This collection is for you, your partners and community to use and share where we can collaborate to create resiliency.
3
Feb
NRI publishes Status Update and Trends of Texas Working Lands 1997-2022
The new Texas Land Trends program report Status Update and Trends of Texas Working Lands 1997–2022 celebrates over two decades of applied research and extension outreach at the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI). Since its inception, the program is an important resource in understanding the complex landscapes of Texas’ working lands—farms, ranches, and forests increasingly threatened by rapid population growth.
1
Feb
Updates and trends in landowner demographics and their relationship with wildlife management
NRI released a new Texas Landowner Survey (TLS) report, Updates and Trends in Landowners Demographics and their Relationship with Wildlife Management, with fresh insights on the Texas general population, land and wildlife stewardship and tax incentives. Most significantly, the report reveals that 49 percent of Texas operations are managed by just two landowners, which will be a critical consideration related to intergenerational land transfers, an aging landowner population and the potential for loss of land management knowledge and experience.
29
Jan
Scientist Q&A with Dr. Sarah Turner
Like many scientists, Research Assistant Professor Dr. Sarah Turner, took a circuitous route to find her passion. We had the opportunity to sit down with her to learn more about her academic background—brimming with brilliant mentors, interesting internships and lots of challenging work—her education, fieldwork, and her future endeavors as she moves into an instructional role at Texas A&M.
24
Jan
NRI Announces Funding for Land Management to Private Landowners within the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI), through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), is offering over $1 million in funding to support private landowners within the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape.
2
Jan
Advancing military readiness and ecological resiliency in the Hill Country
NRI facilitates private land conservation through the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape
16
Nov
Autumn Brings Increased Deer Activity on Roadways
The familiar cadence of football season, pumpkins draped across neighborhoods, crunchy and bright autumn foliage, and a chill in the air... it must be hunting season.
4
Nov
AgriLife Today: Hibbitts adds herpetology expertise to Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
New role, innovative classes introduce students to reptile and amphibian conservation, ecology
1
Nov
SERPPAS: Red-cockaded Woodpecker Downlisted
We are excited to share the announcement from the Department of Interior that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is downlisting the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act.
30
Oct
NRI Announces $2 Million for Conservation Easements in Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape
In response to the rapid urbanization surrounding Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, NRI is offering $1.9 million in funding through the USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program. This funding is available to help private landowners within the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape area protect agricultural and open lands through conservation easements.
23
Oct
The Fall Sourcebook is Here
Directly from the field, the Fall 2024 NRI Sourcebook is here. Each year, we publish a digital collection of recently published peer-reviewed scientific publications, research reports, and resources developed to support the improvement of conservation, natural resource management, and private land stewardship. This collection is for you, your partners and community to use and share where we can collaborate to create resiliency.
21
Oct
Millions of bats call Texas home sweet home
Everything is indeed bigger in Texas, including its bat colonies. Texas has 33 species of bats, more than any other state, and is home to the largest bat colony in the world.
16
Oct
New SERPPAS publication provides overview of living shoreline permitting and regulatory review
In a new publication, “Overview of Living Shoreline Permitting and Regulatory Review in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi,” University of Georgia experts partnered with the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) to examine the use of “living shorelines” to stabilize the coastlines of military installations facing erosion and the regulatory landscape for project planners interested in implementing the nature-based solution.
15
Oct
Extension Publication released on Feral Pigs and Disease Concerns
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI) released a new publication titled “Disease Concerns Associated with Feral Pigs” that covers the science behind the most common and emerging diseases associated with this animal and the way diseases are transmitted.
11
Oct
Farm and ranch lands program safeguards millions in water conservation, flood prevention and ag productivity
NRI released the 2024 evaluation report today for the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program (TFRLCP) publishing key findings to support the program’s efforts to help safeguard the public benefits derived from working lands.
1
Oct
Bighorn Sheep Relocation in Sonora, Mexico
Mountain sheep (Ovis spp.) abundance across North America has declined more than 60% from historic times due to factors such as overgrazing, habitat fragmentation, and disease transmission from domestic livestock and exotic species.
26
Sep
Sawdust Magazine: Q&A with Dr. Roel Lopez
Dr. Roel Lopez sits down with Stephen F. Austin University's Sawdust Magazine to share about how his time at SFA shaped both his research and his advocacy for a "learn by doing" style of teaching.
12
Aug
Lone Star Healthy Streams workshop set August 30th in Industry
Focus on watershed health and best management practices for grazing livestock, backyard poultry, and feral hogs.
29
Jul
Lone Star Healthy Streams workshop set August 13th in Wallisville
Focus on watershed health, soil health, and best management practices for pastures, livestock and feral hogs.
25
Jul
NFWF Announces Record $33.5 Million in Conservation Grants to Restore Longleaf Pine Habitat and Help At-Risk Wildlife
Supporting rural communities, this largest grant slate in program history will impact more than 500,000 acres of longleaf pine habitat, increase longleaf seedling capacity, and improve wildlife populations across eight southern states
19
Jul
NRI Scientists Mentor Youth in the Norman Borlaug Youth in Agriculture Program
Because we are uniquely positioned to speak on land trend issues, we seek to share our expertise about critical natural resource issues with all Texans. Most recently, we had the chance to mentor some of our future leaders and on how they can work together to improve Texas lands from their own hometowns.
15
Jul
Podcast Ep. #6: Small Acreage & Wildlife Management with Chase Brooke
The NRI podcast crew recently had an opportunity to sit down with Chase Brooke, an AgriLife Extension Small Acreage and Wildlife Management Specialist, to shed some light on the little bit of grit and luck it takes to steward your small slice of Texas and the wildlife that thrive because of healthy working lands.