Resources for new landowners: Wildlife

Resources for new landowners: Wildlife

As a new landowner, it is crucial to keep wildlife top-of-mind when developing land management plans. This requires knowing which species are present on a particular tract of land, as well as understanding the relationship each species has with its habitat and the ways in which it sculpts the landscape. This is essential knowledge for any land steward who wants to support native Texas wildlife while pursuing other management goals. Not all wildlife contributes equally to improving the quality of the land, however. High biodiversity of native Texas species at balanced population levels is far more desirable than invasive species which overrun and outcompete natives for critical resources. A great place for new landowners to begin their journey as a student of wildlife is by identifying which species, whether native or introduced are present on their land, and learning which management techniques are best for supporting the desired flora and fauna.

Identification Resources

Expert and citizen science wildlife identification resources can be equally valuable to landowners searching for reliable information. Our favorite resources include a mixture of both:

1. iNaturalist - This widely used citizen science app allows users to submit wildlife photos to a community of nature enthusiasts for identification assistance. You can also serve as an “expert” yourself and help others with identifications, or simply browse sightings in your immediate area. Our blog article from 2018, “Identifying and Documenting Species with iNaturalist,” provides an overview of how to use this app.
2. Seek - The makers of iNaturalist released this innovative app which can provide on-the-spot identification of plants and animals using the power of iNaturalist to compare photos. If an identification can’t be guaranteed, the app does its best to narrow it down and provides the user with the likely Order or Family of the species.
3. All About Birds - The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is truly one of the most thorough resources for learning all about birds. They provide users with bird guides, audio, and other ID resources for North American species. Their Merlin Bird ID App is a great additional branch of this resource which allows you to input key characteristics of a bird sighting to narrow down possible IDs—perfect for beginner birders.
4. Texas Wildlife Identification Guide - Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Identification Guide provides short descriptions of native, game, and exotic Texas wildlife species. Each species has a featured image, range and habitat information, as well as illustrations of their tracks to make the ID process as simple as possible.
5. NatureTracking – Sometimes it’s not the animals we see, but the things they leave behind. This website provides a gallery of tracks, scat, and other signs left not only by mammals and birds but also by reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

A scaled quail (Callipepla squamata). Photo by Robin Agarwal (CC BY-NC 2.0).

 

Additional Resources

            The resources above will help you identify which species are present on your land; the ones below will help you put that knowledge to practical use with management techniques that aim to encourage the health of native populations while mitigating the negative impacts of invasive ones.

 

Invasive Species:

Introduced, or exotic, species are those which are living outside of their native range often directly or indirectly because of human activity; invasive species are introduced species that cause significant ecological or economic harm.

1. NRI’s Wild Pigs Website - Wild pigs one of the most destructive and prolific invasive animals in Texas and can cause widespread ecosystem damage if left unchecked. Our website provides extensive resources on how to deal with the wild pigs on your property including program information, publications, and more.
2. Texas Invasives - This page provides thorough background information on the biggest Texas invaders, practical solutions on how to handle these unwanted species, and an extensive list of resources.
3. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s invasive species resource page provides additional background information and species-specific management suggestions.

 

 Native Species:

Native species are those which are living within their natural range.

1. NRI’s Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative Website - Our website includes all the information needed to become a steward of quail, including blogs, YouTube videos, newsletters, links to our social media where we answer all of your quail questions, and more. Quail share many habitat requirements with other native species, so managing land for quail also benefits other wildlife like grassland songbirds, reptiles and small mammals.
2. Private Land Stewardship Lessons - NRI’s new suite of interactive, online lessons covers a range of wildlife and landowner topics - and even more lessons are currently being developed.
3. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - The TAMU Wildlife Management page provides life history information, conservation and management suggestions, and publications for the most popular game species in Texas.
   • AgriLife Online Learning New Landowners Course — This course introduces new landowners to potential uses of their new property and some basic land management strategies to accomplish their goals in the areas of wildlife, livestock, forages, and sustainability.

 

Establishing a robust knowledge of the species in Texas is a critical first step in wildlife management. Using the base of knowledge gained from these resources, landowners can work with wildlife professionals to create wildlife management plans, and even begin the switch from an agricultural tax valuation plan to one focused on wildlife. Wildlife are an irreplaceable part of every Texas ecosystem and, with proper species management, can be an excellent tool for improving the health and value of the land.

 

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