"To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."
- Aldo Leopold
The Black Footed Ferret is a Lazarus species, which was thought to be extinct until it re-appeared on a ranch in Wyoming in 1981. This highly endangered animal has suffered from the eradication of prairie dogs from ranch lands, which it relies on for food and shelter in their prairie dog tunnels.
The Black Footed Ferret is a Lazarus species, which was thought to be extinct until it re-appeared on a ranch in Wyoming in 1981. This highly endangered animal has suffered from the eradication of prairie dogs from ranch lands, which it relies on for food and shelter in their prairie dog tunnels.
November 21, 2023
The Black-footed Ferret is a Lazarus species, which was thought to be extinct until it re-appeared on a ranch in Wyoming in 1981. This highly endangered animal has suffered from the eradication of prairie dogs from ranch lands, which it relies on for food and shelter in their prairie dog tunnels.
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The Wood Duck is a great success story! It nearly went extinct due to habitat loss and over hunting in the late 1800's. Through the installation of nesting boxes to replace tree cavities and changing in hunting practices, the wood duck is now four million strong and growing.
The Wood Duck is a great success story! It nearly went extinct due to habitat loss and over hunting in the late 1800's. Through the installation of nesting boxes to replace tree cavities and changing in hunting practices, the wood duck is now four million strong and growing.
November 17, 2023
The Wood Duck is a great success story! It nearly went extinct due to habitat loss and over hunting in the late 1800's. Through the installation of nesting boxes to replace tree cavities and changing in hunting practices, the wood duck is now four million strong and growing.
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The Hellbender is one of the larger salamanders found in North America. Its population is declining throughout, but by keeping our waterways clean, we may be able to help the the Hellbender rebound.
The Hellbender is one of the larger salamanders found in North America. Its population is declining throughout, but by keeping our waterways clean, we may be able to help the the Hellbender rebound.
November 1, 2023
The Hellbender is one of the larger salamanders found in North America. Its population is declining throughout, but by keeping our waterways clean, we may be able to help the the Hellbender rebound.
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This South American critter is friends with everyone! They are semi-aquatic and love to go for a swim. Known for being exceptionally sociable, they are tolerant and peaceful.
This South American critter is friends with everyone! They are semi-aquatic and love to go for a swim. Known for being exceptionally sociable, they are tolerant and peaceful.
September 13, 2023
This South American critter is friends with everyone! They are semi-aquatic and love to go for a swim. Known for being exceptionally sociable, they are tolerant and peaceful.
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American Pikas can be found in the mountains of Northwest America. In the late summer and fall, they gather grass and flowers to make hay for the winter.
American Pikas can be found in the mountains of Northwest America. In the late summer and fall, they gather grass and flowers to make hay for the winter.
September 6, 2023
American Pikas can be found in the mountains of Northwest America. In the late summer and fall, they gather grass and flowers to make hay for the winter.
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A secretive species, this handsome frog spends much of its life underground. For this reason, it was only just just discovered in 2003 where it lives in southwest India.
A secretive species, this handsome frog spends much of its life underground. For this reason, it was only just just discovered in 2003 where it lives in southwest India.
August 21, 2023
A secretive species, this handsome frog spends much of its life underground. For this reason, it was only just just discovered in 2003 where it lives in southwest India.
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Like many animals, the Frio Roundnose Minnow has been affected by human activity. As we make changes to the river, and droughts decrease the water levels, populations become separated for long periods of time and now scientists have observed a species separation, where this one species may be becoming two.
Like many animals, the Frio Roundnose Minnow has been affected by human activity. As we make changes to the river, and droughts decrease the water levels, populations become separated for long periods of time and now scientists have observed a species separation, where this one species may be becoming two.
August 9, 2023
Like many animals, the Frio Roundnose Minnow has been affected by human activity. As we make changes to the river, and droughts decrease the water levels, populations become separated for long periods of time and now scientists have observed a species separation, where this one species may be becoming two.
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The white tip shark is known for the white patch on its dorsal fin. It occupies open ocean waters in tropical and subtropical regions. They have live births and travel the seas with pilot whales. They are at risk from fishing.
The white tip shark is known for the white patch on its dorsal fin. It occupies open ocean waters in tropical and subtropical regions. They have live births and travel the seas with pilot whales. They are at risk from fishing.
July 29, 2023
The white tip shark is known for the white patch on its dorsal fin. It occupies open ocean waters in tropical and subtropical regions. They have live births and travel the seas with pilot whales. They are at risk from fishing.
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Found only in the Barton Springs of Zilker Park. One half of the population lives underground, only emerging in certain life cycles. Although still rare, the reduction in chemical cleaning of the pool has improved their numbers. They are no longer critically imperiled.
Found only in the Barton Springs of Zilker Park. One half of the population lives underground, only emerging in certain life cycles. Although still rare, the reduction in chemical cleaning of the pool has improved their numbers. They are no longer critically imperiled.
June 28, 2023
Found only in the Barton Springs of Zilker Park. One half of the population lives underground, only emerging in certain life cycles. Although still rare, the reduction in chemical cleaning of the pool has improved their numbers. They are no longer critically imperiled.
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Roosting under palm leaves, the Southern Yellow Bat lives along southern California, Arizona, and Texas, but the greatest portion of its range stretches down to South America. Like many bats, they are thought to prefer flying insects such as moths.
Roosting under palm leaves, the Southern Yellow Bat lives along southern California, Arizona, and Texas, but the greatest portion of its range stretches down to South America. Like many bats, they are thought to prefer flying insects such as moths.
June 24, 2023
Roosting under palm leaves, the Southern Yellow Bat lives along southern California, Arizona, and Texas, but the greatest portion of its range stretches down to South America. Like many bats, they are thought to prefer flying insects such as moths.
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This tiny river fish can be found in the sightly turbid waters of Texas. They were once also in Oklahoma and Kansas, but dam construction of rivers and private land management practices have now restricted it's range to North Texas.
This tiny river fish can be found in the sightly turbid waters of Texas. They were once also in Oklahoma and Kansas, but dam construction of rivers and private land management practices have now restricted it's range to North Texas.
June 13, 2023
This tiny river fish can be found in the sightly turbid waters of Texas. They were once also in Oklahoma and Kansas, but dam construction of rivers and private land management practices have now restricted it's range to North Texas.
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A success story, the Black-capped Vireo was removed from the endangered species list in 2018! By reducing brood parasitism from cowbirds, their population was able to bounce back. Their strongest geographic range now extends from Central Texas to South-Central Mexico.
A success story, the Black-capped Vireo was removed from the endangered species list in 2018! By reducing brood parasitism from cowbirds, their population was able to bounce back. Their strongest geographic range now extends from Central Texas to South-Central Mexico.
May 31, 2023
A success story, the Black-capped Vireo was removed from the endangered species list in 2018! By reducing brood parasitism from cowbirds, their population was able to bounce back. Their strongest geographic range now extends from Central Texas to South-Central Mexico.
More about the Black-capped Vireo
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A tiny turtle, Cagle’s Map Turtle is only about 4 inches long when fully grown. They prefer flowing streams with a riverbed of sand and clay. Their small clutch size and slow reproduction makes them susceptible to endangerment. Their largest threat is from the pet trade, pesticides, and damming of rivers. Although they love to eat snails and insects, they rather conveniently prefer a local invasive mollusk.
A tiny turtle, Cagle’s Map Turtle is only about 4 inches long when fully grown. They prefer flowing streams with a riverbed of sand and clay. Their small clutch size and slow reproduction makes them susceptible to endangerment. Their largest threat is from the pet trade, pesticides, and damming of rivers. Although they love to eat snails and insects, they rather conveniently prefer a local invasive mollusk.
May 23, 2023
A tiny turtle, Cagle’s Map Turtle is only about 4 inches long when fully grown. They prefer flowing streams with a riverbed of sand and clay. Their small clutch size and slow reproduction makes them susceptible to endangerment. Their largest threat is from the pet trade, pesticides, and damming of rivers. Although they love to eat snails and insects, they rather conveniently prefer a local invasive mollusk.
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Puffins live for 20 years and mate for life, meeting their mate at the same place every year for egg rearing. They greet each other by rubbing beaks together in a behavior called billing. They take turns on the nest for incubation. You may hear them in their underground burrows groan like a cow. It is thought that the sound they make is easy to hear through the dense rock of the burrow city speckling the coastline.
Puffins live for 20 years and mate for life, meeting their mate at the same place every year for egg rearing. They greet each other by rubbing beaks together in a behavior called billing. They take turns on the nest for incubation. You may hear them in their underground burrows groan like a cow. It is thought that the sound they make is easy to hear through the dense rock of the burrow city speckling the coastline.
May 19, 2023
Puffins live for 20 years and mate for life, meeting their mate at the same place every year for egg rearing. They greet each other by rubbing beaks together in a behavior called billing. They take turns on the nest for incubation. You may hear them in their underground burrows groan like a cow. It is thought that the sound they make is easy to hear through the dense rock of the burrow city speckling the coastline.
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Traveling along the east coast and sometimes the Gulf of Mexico, this whale lives on tiny copepods that they sift through their baleen. Their greatest risks are vessel strikes and entanglement from buoy lines.The Northern Right Whale, who primarily migrates up and down the eastern United States coast. Surprisingly, they also occasionally visit our Texas Gulf coast on rare occasions.
Traveling along the east coast and sometimes the Gulf of Mexico, this whale lives on tiny copepods that they sift through their baleen. Their greatest risks are vessel strikes and entanglement from buoy lines.The Northern Right Whale, who primarily migrates up and down the eastern United States coast. Surprisingly, they also occasionally visit our Texas Gulf coast on rare occasions.
May 10, 2023
Traveling along the east coast and sometimes the Gulf of Mexico, this whale lives on tiny copepods that they sift through their baleen. Their greatest risks are vessel strikes and entanglement from buoy lines.The Northern Right Whale, who primarily migrates up and down the eastern United States coast. Surprisingly, they also occasionally visit our Texas Gulf coast on rare occasions.
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The Texas Blind Salamander is most impacted by habitat changes from local humans. Conserve water and prevent chemical run off and water pollution to help maintain a healthy water flow for the salamander.
The Texas Blind Salamander is most impacted by habitat changes from local humans. Conserve water and prevent chemical run off and water pollution to help maintain a healthy water flow for the salamander.
May 9, 2023
The Texas Blind Salamander is most impacted by habitat changes from local humans. Conserve water and prevent chemical run off and water pollution to help maintain a healthy water flow for the salamander.
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Attwater's Prairie Chickens have an amazing courting display. Males use their large gold air sack to attract mates by emitting a booming sound during courtship dances, they fan their wings, and raise their head feathers as they stomp the ground. They are one of the most endangered birds in Texas, living among tall, thick prairie grasses which have been fragmented by development and building. You can see them dance during the spring Prairie Chicken Festival at their refuge in Texas. Males use the
Attwater's Prairie Chickens have an amazing courting display. Males use their large gold air sack to attract mates by emitting a booming sound during courtship dances, they fan their wings, and raise their head feathers as they stomp the ground. They are one of the most endangered birds in Texas, living among tall, thick prairie grasses which have been fragmented by development and building. You can see them dance during the spring Prairie Chicken Festival at their refuge in Texas. Males use the
April 26, 2023
Attwater's Prairie Chickens have an amazing courting display. Males use their large gold air sack to attract mates by emitting a booming sound during courtship dances, they fan their wings, and raise their head feathers as they stomp the ground. They are one of the most endangered birds in Texas, living among tall, thick prairie grasses which have been fragmented by development and building. You can see them dance during the spring Prairie Chicken Festival at their refuge in Texas. Males use their large gold air sack to attract mates by emitting a booming sound during courtship dances, they fan their wings, and raise their head feathers as they stomp the ground.
Visit the Attwater's Prairie Chicken's Refuge
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March 29, 2023
The Mexican free-tailed bats are back on the move north! If you are in the southern United States, look for them under bridges. In Austin, Texas under the Congress bridge a colony roosts that is so large that it is often seen on the weather radar.
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March 19, 2023
This grumpy looking little bird is also on its way to Texas right now. Listen for their high-pitched calls in broad leaved trees like oak trees. Despite its name, it doesn't eat too many gnats, but does like to stir up other bugs to eat using its tail.
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March 8, 2023
They're not here yet, but they will be soon! The Golden-cheeked Warbler can be found in Central Texas in the spring singing in Live Oak trees and Ashe Juniper stands. Listen for their song the next time you are on a hike. The male that visits me in the spring sings all day long during peak season, so you may even hear them in the afternoon. Listen to their song if you don't know it on the All About Birds website below. Happy birding!
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March 1, 2023
This tiny canine is considered to be the smallest fox in the United States. They live among prairie dogs in the prairies of North Texas which they rely on for food. Only weighing in at about five pounds, it is only the size of a house cat.
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Or if you are in Houston
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February 22, 2023
The white-nosed coati is similar to a raccoon or a ringtail cat, but with a long snout which is used for finding grubs. They change their behavior with the season. As fall and winter approach, solitary males roam the brush, but as spring arrives they join the female matriarchal groups to breed. The pregnant females are then the ones to leave the group to have their babies. They don't return until the late summer with their cubs and it is at that time that they again run off the males from the group, starting the cycle over.
Although primarily from Central and South America, some white-nosed coati can be spotted in Arizona and occasionally in South Texas.
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February 15, 2023
The kangaroo rat is amazing. They live in the desert and don't lose any water because they never pant and don't sweat like most mammals. These little acrobats jump, flip, and kick to get away from rattlesnakes in the dark. Although they like small disturbances to their habitats, they are threatened in Texas. They need the help from North Texas ranchers to maintain their habitat and work with biologists to monitor their populations.
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February 8, 2023
Each year in the winter one large colony returns to Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge in Maine to have their adorable babies. Be sure to check in on the Seal Island live camera at explore.org.
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