By: Johnny Arredondo, Wildlife Biologist - Kerr & Bandera Counties

Who, what, when, where, why, and how? Those same questions can be used to gain a deeper understanding of Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) management and whether it be a considerable habitat management practice for your property.

Who/What/Why? Ashe Juniper, also known as blueberry juniper, mountain cedar, or just CEDAR, is a drought-tolerant evergreen tree native to Texas. Historically, Ashe juniper occurred only in steep draws and canyonlands, in which this system was maintained by natural or man-made wildfires for tens of thousands of years. Ashe juniper that occurs in these areas are referred to as “Old growth” juniper and is considered to play a vital role in the ecosystem. Over the past 150 years, changes in land use practices and fire suppression have created a new landscape. Today Ashe juniper is well known for its vast expansion across the Texas Hill Country. Ashe juniper can become overabundant and invasive, and its expansion has caused a decrease in plant species diversity. In addition, some studies have shown that Ashe Juniper in some instances can increase soil erosion (due to the lack of understory grasses to stabilize the soil and can reduce the amount of water recharge to the aquifer by collecting water in the canopy.

When/Where? The removal of “re-growth” juniper should be practiced in areas with the best soils, which have the greatest potential for increased production of herbaceous and woody plants. This should be applied to areas where it has previously been cleared, hill tops, or areas with low grade slopes. But remember, not all junipers are bad! Both old growth and re-growth Ashe junipers can provide shelter, thermal cover, and nesting habitat for numerous wildlife species and songbirds. Thus, removal should be done outside the nesting season, which generally occurs from March to early August. In addition, areas with steep slope or old growth junipers should be left alone to help reduce soil erosion and to maintain suitable habitat for specific species such as Golden-cheeked warblers.

How? Ashe juniper dies when the main stem is cut at the base of the tree and is one of the best methods of removal. Depending on the scale of project, cost, and time, there are a few options to consider. For years, bulldozers have been used as an effective and efficient method to achieve this goal but can be quite destructive, causing a high disturbance of the soil and erosion. Smaller machinery like hydraulic shears can be used for more selective removal and less soil disturbance, generally at the same cost and efficiency level. Hand cutting is another method that allows removal and less soil disturbance but is a slow process. Another method to consider is prescribed fire, which has proven to be a highly efficient and low-cost tool to manage Ashe juniper, if done safely and properly.

If you are a landowner or land manager that is deliberating whether to implement an Ashe juniper management program on your property, take these questions into consideration. You can also view more information about habitat management practices on the TPWD website and/or contact your local biologist for further recommendations.

By: Rachel Hamilton, Wildlife Biologist - Coleman & Concho Counties

Pollinators are species that facilitate pollination and can include bees, butterflies, bats, birds, moths, and even small mammals. Many flowering plants use colorful displays, nectar, and pollen to attract various pollinators who act as carriers transferring pollen between plants along the way. They play a crucial role in our ecosystem, supporting wildlife systems, agriculture production, and the growth of many flowering plants.

One of the most effective ways we can help improve pollinator habitats is by creating more diverse and native plant environments. Some activities that achieve this include prescribed fire, disking, well-managed grazing, and native plantings. Controlled burns remove excess thatch and brush, exposing and adding nutrients to the soil. This process creates a more favorable environment for native species. Another method that promotes the growth of early successional plants is disking which involves lightly turning over and opening the soil. Grazing or resting pastures, dependent on habitat conditions, can also benefit pollinators. Managed grazing allows for careful control of vegetation, while resting certain areas from grazing can help restore native plant populations. Finally, planting native flowers, shrubs, and trees can provide essential food sources for pollinators when diversity is otherwise lacking.

Not sure where to begin? Consider contributing to a local Bioblitz, an event in which community members identify and record as many species as possible in a designated area within a set timeframe. Through these events, important data on pollinator populations is collected and can be used to guide management goals and activities.

Incorporating one or more of these strategies into our land management practices can contribute to healthier pollinator habitats. Let’s work together to ensure a thriving future for pollinators and the ecosystems they support.

By: Kelton Mote, Wildlife Biologist - Mason Mountain WMA

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) once occupied 100 million acres across the Great Plains from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Today, however, they occupy roughly 2% of that historic range due to the loss of prairie habitat, human persecution, and the introduction of sylvatic plague. The black-tailed prairie dog is an important ecosystem engineer benefiting up to 150 other wildlife species including lesser prairie-chickens, Texas horned lizards, and burrowing owls. They serve as an important prey item to a host of predators while their burrows provide shelter for a wide array of wildlife. Thus, grasslands inhabited by black-tailed prairie dogs often support greater biodiversity than those without. 

Because prairie dogs are historic residents of Mason County, as recently as the 1990s, we began reintroduction efforts on Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area in 2018. Through multiple releases across several years, our prairie dog colony is now healthy and has established itself as a sustainable population.

Through the process, we have experienced several positive benefits for the WMA. We’ve observed predation from bobcats, badgers, and red-tailed hawks. This fall a burrowing owl utilized the colony for several weeks as a rest stop before continuing its migration South. White-tailed deer have heavily utilized the colony as a natural food plot due to the innate ability of prairie dogs to maintain vegetation in a low-growing, highly palatable form. However, the most entertaining show comes from the prairie dogs themselves when their pups begin to appear in the spring emerging from their burrows and exploring the world around them.

In the future, we plan to grow our colony on the WMA for the betterment of prairie dogs as a species and the plethora of wildlife that have come to benefit from their presence.

By: Annaliese Scoggin, Wildlife Biologist - Callahan, Nolan, Taylor, & Mitchell Counties

Many people are not aware that Texas is home to FIVE species of skunks: the striped skunk, the hog-nosed skunk, the hooded skunk, and the eastern and western spotted skunks. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is our most common and widespread skunk that most Texans readily recognize at first sight - or smell! The two spotted skunks together occupy almost as much of the state, with the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) occupying the eastern 2/3rds of the state, the western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) occupying the western 1/3 of the state, and a small area of overlap in the hill country.

Spotted skunks are extremely elusive, yet captivating creatures native to Texas and other parts of North America. They are the smallest members of the skunk family, known for their diminutive size, secretive nature, and unique tendency among the skunks to perform a handstand as part of their defense display. These small omnivores typically weigh between 1.5 to 4.5 pounds and measure about 15 to 18 inches in length. Their diet primarily consists of insects, small mammals, birds, fruits, and vegetation, allowing them to live in various habitats ranging from forests and hills to grasslands, though they seem to prefer forested or brushy habitats.

Though spotted skunks are still considered widespread, their highly nocturnal behavior and elusive nature makes them very difficult to study. Scientists in Texas know very little about their current populations. They are not currently listed as endangered, but there is some concern over their potentially declining numbers and rarity.