Exploring the Wildlife of West Texas

A dry water tank, a broken fence branch or fresh tracks on a two-track can tell you much more about a ranch than a quick observation from the truck. Learning animal signs, and how weather, cover, water and human activity affect animal movement, can allow visitors to traverse the property with minimal impact and avoid causing avoidable harm while also being able to detect relatively minor problems with the habitat before serious damage occurs. Slow observation of the ground and leaving the country in good order for other visitors, animals and seasons is key to responsible observation for visitors across West Texas.

Read the Ground Before You Walk

Read the Ground Before You Walk. When determining the best route look for soft soil, loose rock, old wire, cattle trails, washouts, etc. to determine if the route you are taking is going to require maintenance or alter the habitat after your visit. Also look for areas where recent drainage has been crossed by recent vehicle use. A short detour to avoid further habitat damage down the road is better than a long detour after having damaged habitat. While tracks in the soil are useful to identify recent animal use of a water source, older animal use of a water source can be seen in older prints that have been mostly filled in with dust. You must take a close look at the edges of the track, check for scat, bent grass, and clipped stems, and disturbed soil to arrive at a conclusion. But one sign is not enough to make a conclusion. Look for several signs in the same area and then you can decide where to observe animals and where to leave them alone. A gate that does not shut, low lying wire, and water in very muddy ground are simple symptoms of larger maintenance problems. They can direct animals down new paths, create new hazards to wildlife, and even make safe routes very dangerous after a rain.

Desert Grassland Needs a Light Touch

The open space of the desert grassland looks tough enough but it’s surface is easily torn by repeated vehicle use, careless parking or even lots of foot traffic on firm ground. If on a ranch with established routes, then stick to them. If on a green swale or shallow drainage then take an alternate route – wait a few days or turn around if the route is currently wet enough to rut. The flat grass areas will often reveal the bedding areas of some animals and signs of frequent travel. Most areas of flat grass will reveal pressed areas of grass, which are often mistaken for signs of recent animal activity. Often the best vantage point for observing wildlife is from a point some distance away and recessed from the view of the wildlife’s upland cover. Leave food, plastic and other spent packaging at home, don’t deposit trash to the ground. Leave rocks where they are, do not remove them or move them to another location. Do not cut live vegetation for photo opportunities. Do not pick up shed animals’ hair or other debris for souvenirs.

Mesquite Habitat Rewards Careful Observation

The Mesquite lends itself to wonderful views and travel lanes but now often hides in the leaves of the tree. Be careful in approach to a concentration of Mesquite as the sudden movement of visitors could alarm animals using the edges of the stand of trees. Give ample space to pass through and keep a quiet voice. Turn around before you get in among the trees and make sure everyone in your party can retrace your steps. Understanding how animals travel through edges of habitat rather than through centers of dense habitat can lead to very effective viewing of wildlife. Staying on the very edge of a stand of trees and viewing down the edge rather than going into the stand can be very effective and cause less disturbance to animals than viewing in the interior of a stand. Keeping voices low, traveling slowly, avoiding repeated passes by the same area and giving animals a lot of room to move should be the goals of any responsible observer. If an animal changes direction because of your presence then you are too close for effective and responsible wildlife viewing. Look for simple problems with maintenance such as low fence sections or sagging wires that may be in contact with mesquite branches. Be sure gates are closing and old posts have not rotted to become sharp points of hazard. Do not alter a fence or cut brush for the purpose of a upgrade without permission from the landowner. Report simple problems with maintenance such as a gate that will not close or a section of fence that needs repair with a detailed description of location and problem.

Rocky Breaks Require Extra Planning

The surface of a rocky break can have lots of shaded areas with uneven surfaces of loose rock. These are easily damaged, so be sure to keep to set routes and stay on firm ground. Be careful not to take unnecessary items, and be sure to keep a safe distance from any edges. Remember to always treat your firearms with the utmost respect and exercise the greatest care at all times. Be aware of current laws as well as the rules of the landowner where you are shooting. Range-officers are there to help and ensure your safety, as well as that of other visitors and wildlife. Check on where the rest of your group is before settling in, and have an idea of what is beyond your vantage point. Even the best spot can have its pitfalls. If visibility deteriorates, weather moves in, or another party arrives to view the area, don’t hesitate to move on. Be aware of loose stone and other signs of recent hard weather when traveling over grassland routes. Avoid using these routes as a short cut to view points, as they can be easily damaged by subsequent vehicles.

Riparian Pockets Are Busy, Sensitive Places

Riparian or creek-side habitats can support a high density of wildlife. Come to these areas carefully and consider viewing animals down wind if possible. Avoid edges of muddy margins and do not cross in the same place that animals have traveled. Actions such as these can create problems very rapidly. Look for signs of stress. See if animals are being flushed out repeatedly. Do animals abandon their cover in your presence? Are there signs of trampling on the edge of a water feature? Has the water become cloudy? Is there a lot of fresh trash in a concentrated area? One animal moving away from you is typically not a big deal. However, if animals are moving away from you repeatedly in the same general area as a water feature then there may be problems with animal use of that feature due to visitors, animal pressure from nearby livestock, erosion problems or even that the ranch is not maintaining the feature properly. The water features on a ranch are off limits for most activities including photography, cleaning equipment, and picking up dropped objects. Go into a water feature on ranch only with permission and with a specific plan to do so. Keep dogs under control on ranch and comply with all posted ranch signs. A clean bank and a healthy margin are evidence of good wildlife habitat protection.

Simple Checks Before You Leave the Truck

Before leaving the parking lot or starting on the route to the first area check for: necessary equipment, maps, route, weather, access restrictions, communication methods, water, proper footwear, basic first aid supplies. Make sure all gates are closed and locked, all vehicle doors are closed, and all equipment is turned off and/or packed up. If for some reason the conditions for the day are not working well for the group then cut the day short. So, at each stop on your outing consider answering 3 simple questions. What has changed since last time you visited this location? What signs of current use are there by animals? What can your group of people do to possibly harm this location if you stay too long? Binoculars and cameras of good quality with suitable lenses can be useful for studying wildlife from a safe distance. Avoid activities that can alter the behavior of wildlife and cause problems for other visitors. Do not go into the field and bait animals, call to them, chase after them, or attempt to block their path. Also, do not use wildlife for attracting other species for photography.

Field Checklist for Ranch Visits

• Verify access, inspect gates and note any restrictions to use by the landowner prior to departure from staging area.
• Check for mud, washouts, loose rock, low hanging wire and falling branches on route to and at destination.
• Follow the same routes through the desert grasslands and stay on the roads or established trails, especially near drainage courses.
• Maintain a safe distance from wildlife and do not disturb their cover, nests, dens, and the areas around water sources including rocks and plants.
• Dispose of all food waste and packaging as well as all spent shell casings.
• Remain quiet and observe wildlife if it appears to be changing directions or leaving an area suddenly.
• Report all damaged fences, unsafe gates, erosion, trash, etc. to the responsible landowner or Ranch Manager.
• Follow current laws and ranch rules. Handle firearms safely in authorized situations.

Leave Working Country Ready for the Next Visit

Ranch country is habitat and working land. Great field judgement means you can be observing and respecting all aspects of a working landscape. It is best to observe wildlife in rural areas by slowing down to observe the finer details of wildlife activity and leave areas that appear stressed, overused, wet, or damaged for another time. West Texas wildlife is best viewed by traveling lightly and communicating with ranch owners and others who visit the property. Simple maintenance problems can alert us to observe certain features of the habitat in greater detail.