Early mornings and field work at Holloman Air Force Base
Written by Hanna Hardt: There wasn’t one big, cinematic moment that defined my summer working at Holloman Air Force Base. No single breakthrough, no dramatic turning point. Instead, it was the accumulation of the little moments that made the experience feel meaningful—and made me undeniably grateful to be there.
Read Article
A summer in the Chihuahuan Desert on military lands
Written by William Schultz: Spending a summer working hands-on with endangered species in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert is an experience I’ll never forget. I had the chance to use field techniques I had never even heard of before and to work closely with remarkable desert-adapted species, from the endemic White Sands Pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa) to burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) and even the elusive American badger (Taxidea taxus). Every day offered something new, challenging, and rewarding.
Read Article
Podcast Ep #12: Monitoring wildlife for New World screwworm
For many Texans, the New World Screwworm feels like a problem of the past. It was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s and is rarely discussed outside of history or veterinary textbooks. In Episode 12 of The Land Steward Podcast, we take a closer look at why the screwworm is once again a concern for Texans.
Read Article
Measuring river health through mussels: NRI researchers advance water quality study on the Trinity River
On a cool morning along the West Fork of the Trinity River, NRI researchers waded carefully through flowing water to check a series of mussel silos submerged along the riverbed. These silos, concrete domes with a central opening that houses juvenile mussels and allows water to flow through, are a part of a project examining how water quality influences mussel growth and survival. The field team is led by research associate Rachel Carpenter and supported by Dr. Charles Randklev, research scientist and head of NRI’s freshwater mussel program.
Read Article
Using exclusion fencing to prevent feral hog access at feeding stations
Domestic pigs were introduced into the United States in the 1500s by Spanish explorers as a reliable food source. Those pigs and others brought from Europe and released into the wild established the original population of feral pigs. Today, there are around 3 million feral pigs in Texas that cause significant agricultural damage totaling over $670 million annually, and landowners have reported spending an additional $130 million in control costs.
Read Article
The Fall 2025 NRI Sourcebook is here
Directly from the field, the Fall 2025 edition of the NRI Sourcebook brings together a seasonal, digital collection of recently published peer-reviewed scientific publications, applied research reports, and science-based resources developed by Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute researchers and collaborators. Each volume reflects our commitment to advancing conservation, natural resource management, and private land stewardship through interdisciplinary, applied research.
Read Article
Fort Sill habitat restoration provides new opportunities for hunters
On about 40 acres, with roughly 300 acres scheduled to follow, Fort Sill’s Natural Resources team is carrying out what foresters call timber stand improvement. In plain language, it means thinning the understory of older, overgrown forest to let light back in.
Read Article
Conserving South Atlantic salt marsh through collective action
The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI) is a voluntary, non-regulatory partnership of individuals working together to protect and restore salt marshes across a four-state region from North Carolina to Florida. This regional initiative is coordinated by NRI’s Amanda Gobeli, who oversees federal, state, and local partner organizations and engagement for the implementation of their conservation plan. We recently sat down with Gobeli to discuss how her role within SASMI is shaping the defense against specific threats to our coastal salt marshes.
Read Article
Podcast Ep #11: Restoring the legacy of the Longleaf pine ecosystem
Today, organizations like the Texas Longleaf Team, led by Jenny Sanders, work to promote restorative land management practices to bring back this iconic species. Listen to Episode 11 of The Land Steward Podcast to learn more about their efforts.
Read Article
Why feral pig management is essential for new landowners
Texas faces a threat that is adaptable, pervasive, and alarmingly expensive: the feral pig (Sus scrofa), known variously as wild hogs, wild boars, or razorbacks. This invasive exotic species has populations estimated in the millions, and the damage they inflict can be severe. A new publication, "Managing Feral Pigs on Small Acreage Properties and Metropolitan Areas," underscores the urgent necessity of modernized feral pig management strategies, especially as Texas rapidly urbanizes.
Read Article
