CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

Did you know Texas leads the nation in open space farm and ranch land lost to fragmentation and development each year? A pretty staggering fact. But is there a way to reverse that trend?

There are so many diverse components to successfully conserving and managing our family lands, and Plateau works every day to help landowners protect that asset. A conservation easement is just one tool landowners have to shelter themselves and their heirs from estate tax issues and future fragmentation. If you are not familiar with (or you have a preconceived notion about) conservation easements, watch this particularly well-done video by Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT). Also, Plateau works with the leading conservation easement attorneys in the state of Texas, so if you have any questions, call us and we'll help get you the answers you need.



From our customized Wildlife Management Plans to convert your land from an Ag Tax Valuation or Timber Valuation to Wildlife Tax Valuation, to our range of environmentally and financially smart services and products, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management is dedicated to increasing your enjoyment of your land, and helping you achieve your ultimate land vision.

DRY TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR PONDS

Plateau Land Use Services has been staying busy these long, dry months by taking advantage of the opportunities brought on by the current drought including planting native vegetation and building fences. The extended dry period is also allowing landowners with degraded ponds the opportunity to recondition them. The best time to conduct pond repairs and expansions is while they are dry. Recently completed projects have included cleaning and enlarging older ponds that had years of silt accumulation as well as constructing new ponds. The process for renovating an older pond is similar to building a new one.

The first step is to develop a plan that includes determining the size of pond desired and the size of pond that the land will support. Soil samples should be taken and analyzed during this step of the process. Accumulated silt can then be removed and stock piled from older ponds at this point. Any of the existing pond liner that will be reused can be excavated and stockpiled also.

The next step is to enlarge and reshape the pond to the size and shape determined in the plan. It is important for the plan to be adaptable during this step of the process as physical and economic conditions can play a role in determining the final layout of the pond. After the excavation has been completed a liner must be installed to seal the pond. There are a variety of liner types that can be used depending on existing conditions and the intended use. Synthetic liners should be installed according to the manufacturer's directions and clay liners should be constructed by compacting the soil in lifts at the proper soil moisture. Excess material that has been stockpiled can now be incorporated into the existing landscape.

The final step of every pond project is to re-establish vegetation that will provide long term erosion control for the pond, the inflow, and the down stream channel. Permanent erosion control is a critical step that will help ensure a properly functioning pond for many years. Temporary erosion control should also be used where necessary during the construction process.

The dry season is the best time for pond construction or renovation. Plateau works on a constructing a new pond, above.

From our customized Wildlife Management Plans to convert your land from an Ag Tax Valuation or Timber Valuation to Wildlife Tax Valuation, to our range of environmentally and financially smart services and products, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management is dedicated to increasing your enjoyment of your land, and helping you achieve your ultimate land vision.

ECOLAB Q&A WITH STUART KENSINGER

Interviewed by Kelly Louque

The Texas EcoLab Program is a compelling and cost-effective choice for property that offers an alternative to the minimum of 5 years of grazing or farming typically required for properties to qualify for favorable Ag tax rates. The program pairs conservation-minded landowners with researchers from various universities (University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, Trinity, Texas State, University of Houston, University of Texas at San Antonio, and others). This pairing provides landowners with substantial tax savings and researchers with habitats suitable for their particular areas of study as well as much needed grants to further important scientific research. We recently spoke with one such conservation-minded landowner and EcoLab client, Stuart Kensinger, about his EcoLab experience. Beyond tax incentives, Kensinger found it a unique opportunity to improve his land stewardship and share the experience with his son. Through the EcoLab program, father and son were able to work with and learn more about his land from experts such as Gary Voelker, Assistant Professor and Curator of Birds at Texas A&M University, and Emily McTavish, a graduate student of biological sciences at the University of Texas at Austin.

How did you find out about EcoLab?
"Through Cassie (Gresham) and Shane (Kiefer). I was looking into alternatives for properties that didn't have an Agriculture valuation."

How did you decide that using your land as an Ecological laboratory was the right decision for you?
"It was less of a tax issue and more of a stewardship issue. I wanted to be more responsible with the land."

What type of research was conducted on your property?
"Let's see, there were so many. I guess the most memorable ones were the bird study (with Gary Voelker) and a compelling study on salamanders involving DNA evolutionary studies and work on impacts of rain and flooding (with Emily McTavish). We got very involved with these studies and participated in the field work."

How many acres were devoted to EcoLab/used for research?
"All 493 acres of our land was used."

What are some of the benefits you have received from having your land used as an Ecolab?
"There was the benefit of letting the researchers work. I also loved sharing in the field work and spending time with my son (Philip) who also got involved. He really liked acting as the tour guide, showing the researchers the land. Another great benefit was that we began to understand our land better. My son (and I) also began to appreciate and experience the land in a different way."

How would you rate your overall EcoLab experience?
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat! My only regret is that my current location doesn't allow me to spend as much time interacting with the process as I would like. In fact, I'm continuing with Ecolab."

How was it working with the researchers?
"It was a wonderful experience. They always offered to let us participate in the field work. Emily (McTavish) enabled Philip to see so much more than what was on the ground. He was amazed at what was really there. He would look down and see a rock, she would pick it up and show him all the many different things living under the rock. It was a huge life lesson, showing him (and me) how to see more than what was just in front of him. He learned to see more of what was in the world."

Would you recommend that other landowners participate in this program?
"Absolutely! In fact, I'm working to get more of my neighbors involved in the program."

What are/were your goals for the property? Why was the EcoLab program a good fit for your property?
"My original goal was to convert my land into wildlife management, but I realized that was just a start. Now my goal is to become a better steward (of the land)."

Please describe your experience working with the team at Braun & Gresham.
"It has been a delight. The work is thorough and complete. It's very pleasant to work with the firm. The way the firm has handled the process has helped me to continue in EcoLab even after converting to wildlife management."

Learn more about EcoLab on the Braun & Gresham website.

Nature's laboratory. Photo from Stuart Kensinger's property in the Braun & Gresham EcoLab program.

ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE: A LITTLE ADVENTURE

By Kameron Bain, Business Development, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

This will not be my typical article. Due to a busy spring season, I was unable to leave the office for any adventures with my Plateau team. You can imagine this left me in a quandary of what to write about for our summer issue. However, it is amazing how some things work out. Recently I had the opportunity to reflect on adventures in wildlife and what they mean to each of us.

My Nannie, Agnes Moore, passed away in May and she was an amazing lady. After spending the past few weeks remembering how truly remarkable she was, it dawned on me that my adventures in wildlife began long before I moved to Texas and started working at Plateau. Now, my Nannie was not the type of person to hunt or camp or even hike. She was always very fashionable, well pressed, and never went anywhere without her penny loafers. While you may not be surprised to hear that she is no wilderness girl, she did love nature. This was never more evident when I had the chance to live with her for a while after I graduated from college. Together we went on many adventures, but the ones that stand out the most are our day trips to the Connecticut coast. On nice days we would drive down to Long Island Sound and find a nice bench to sit on. We would sit for hours. We would sometimes talk, sometimes enjoy an ice cream cone, and sometimes we would be silent and stare out at the sea and reflect on its beauty. It was simple and peaceful and it was our own little adventure that we shared together.

It has become clear to me that there are varying ways to have adventures in wildlife, and how important it is that these adventures are passed down for generations. Whether you hunt for deer, canoe down a river, hike a mountain, or sit on your porch watching birds, they are your very own unique adventures. You probably learned to hunt from your dad or your granddad, or went on a hike with your mom or grandma, or spent days with your family discovering all the wildlife on your property. Like me, you all probably learned how wonderful nature is from someone you are close to by sharing in these adventures. These lessons are never spoken and sometimes pass us by unnoticed but are so valuable. I'm sure my Nannie never imagined those quiet days spent on that bench in front of the sea would be moments I carry with me always and would lead me to a career I love so much.

After a beautiful long weekend in New England in May to say good-bye, I returned to work with renewed inspiration. I made the connection on a personal level on how important our work, and how life-changing the example we set. Our mission at Plateau is not only to help landowners with their wildlife management valuation to keep their property affordable, but offer assistance, education, and guidance to be better land stewards and preserve a legacy of love for nature. Yes, we install nest boxes and conduct brush control but, at the end of the day, most of us have the same goal: to protect the land for the future so we can carry on our wildlife traditions.

I hope to someday go back to that point on Long Island Sound and share my love and my own personal adventures in wildlife with my nephews or future grandchildren. I was gifted a special legacy by my Nannie that I will pass on to them. A little adventure that will impact their lives as it impacted mine.

Until next season and Seasons, I hope your summer is full of adventures -- big or little.

And thank you Nannie for all of our adventures.

IN THE PRESENCE OF MOUNTAIN LIONS

By Erin Yoes, Staff Biologist, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

It was just another day in the field for me, combing through a property, surveying for the presence of either the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler or Black-capped Vireo. The land was rich in juniper, agarito, prickly pear, and cat-claw mimosa. Not only is this difficult terrain to navigate, but, as you push through, the cracking and scraping of branches also makes it extremely difficult to hear birds singing. For this reason, I made periodic stops in different areas to make sure I was hearing any bird that might be around. It was on one of these breaks that I had one of the most interesting days in my field career, and this was after I was forced to climb a tree to avoid a feral hog earlier that morning.

I was in the bottom of a canyon where the vegetation was thin enough to allow me to work my way along the canyon floor in a way I could still easily hear birds. While looking around, I noticed a cave-like opening about 30 feet up in the canyon wall. Always the biologist, I went up to take a look. When I got there I noticed a large pile of scat at the edge of the opening. As I examined it more closely, it appeared to have 2 or 3 hairs embedded within it. My thoughts raced as I tried to pinpoint what animal could have produced such a mess. No matter what it was, I knew it was probably in my best interest to move on before that animal got back, so I did just that.

About a half hour later, after a nervous departure from the scene I just took in, I came out of the canyon and into the inlet of a nearby lake. Drawing closer to the water's edge, I saw what appeared to be fresh tracks leading out of the canyon, to the water, and then back into the canyon again. Upon closer observation, I detected there were actually two sets. One was a large set that appeared to be feline in nature, while those next to it were ones similar in appearance but smaller in size. Maybe a mom and cub, I thought. I took a few extremely quick pictures before heading off, just in case the owners of the tracks were still in the area. The entire walk back to the truck, I couldn't help but think that I had just documented the presence of a mountain lion in the area.

A photo of one of the tracks Erin found near the lake inlet, left. Paw print area highlighted, right.

At the end of the survey, the other two surveyors and I discussed what we had seen. One recounted seeing some spooked javelina followed by an unknown animal that made a "hissing-growl" sound as it ran off. As he surmised what it might have been, I interrupted him with my track photos. His eyes widened and he began to smile. He agreed with my earlier conclusion, and after consulting a field guide we confirmed the identification. It's a little unnerving knowing that I was in the presence of such an extraordinary and massive predator. Although I never saw more than its remnants, it was undeniably thrilling to have been near the presence of this secretive and solitary, extraordinary and massive predator that has been an integral part of Texas wildlife for thousands of years, as evidenced by the paintings and pictographs of Native Americans and the fossil record.

While I haven't been in the wildlife field too long -- I joined Plateau last October -- I have been in long enough to appreciate such finds. They don't happen all the time.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: SUMMER AND WILDLIFE

The halfway point in any endeavor is a milestone, and the month of July marks that point for the year. You may have heard us say it before, but we believe summer to be a great time to pull out your wildlife management plan and assess your progress. Have you completed at least half of your wildlife management activities for 2011? County appraisal districts generally conduct their appraisals between September and March (but it can be any time of the year), so don't wait until late in the year, particularly as many activities are season specific.

Take a moment to re-familiarize yourself with your plan, and make sure you're staying on top of your wildlife management activities. If Plateau wrote your wildlife management plan, an easy starting point is with your Wildlife Management Planning Matrix, the one page summary spreadsheet created by Plateau to help landowners easily visualize the activities that are to be conducted over a five year window, making short and long range goals more assessable at a glance. Review the 2011 column for the activities you are responsible for this year.

Ideally, this should be done at regular intervals throughout the year beginning in January so that "season specific" activities can be done at the appropriate times. For example, a songbird census is typically done in the spring, while a deer census (both spotlight count and browse survey) is typically conducted from late summer through fall.

Summer is prime time for the following activities:

• Developing a brush management plan so implementation can start in the fall/winter.
• A consulting site visit by a Plateau biologist to ensure wildlife management activities are on track for the year.
• Implementing chemical control, especially prickly pear, now through July and August.
• Starting deer surveys, including spotlight and camera surveys. Plateau can also assist with MLDP paperwork filings (due August 15). Get on our schedule early for this service!
• Constructing pond/wildlife water features during the dry months.
• Planning trail construction to start after September 1st (as cutting could possibly go through woodland habitat).

Plateau can help you meet all of your wildlife management goals. Contact us today for more information!

From our customized Wildlife Management Plans to convert your land from an Ag Tax Valuation or Timber Valuation to Wildlife Tax Valuation, to our range of environmentally and financially smart services and products, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management is dedicated to increasing your enjoyment of your land, and helping you achieve your ultimate land vision.

HOT AND WILD: NATURE'S SEASONAL SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES

By Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

Dashing from air-conditioned home to air-conditioned car, slathered in sunscreen, ice cold bottle of water in hand, Texas summers are almost survivable. While the first official day of summer arrived June 21, we received a blistering hot preview of the change in seasons starting in May. Some parts of Texas set record temperature highs over a month ago, and the state is in the worst drought in 44 years. Not that any of us need reminding. But while Homo sapiens is fortunate to have many methods (some of which are quite artificial) of coping with summer conditions, other members of the animal kingdom aren't as lucky. How does our Texas wildlife deal with these hot, dry living environments?

Despite harsh conditions, semi-arid and arid regions of Texas (including portions of Central, most of South, and all of West Texas) are able to support a wide variety of fauna. Survival strategies can include behavioral techniques or biological adaptations. Regardless, life in inhospitable environments often comes down to maintaining body temperatures and acquiring and retaining water.

One basic behavioral technique is to seek shelter from the conditions. While we crank the A/C and ceiling fans, small mammals, insects, and reptiles spend the warm hours of the day in underground dens, burrows, rock crevasses, or brush piles. These daytime hideouts are many degrees cooler than exposed areas. Because their skin is porous, frogs are at a high risk of dehydration. The moist habitats needed by frogs aren't always available - on the surface at least. During droughts, frogs will spend most of the year buried in cool, moist conditions well underground where they can absorb water through their skins. During this process, called aestivation, metabolic rates can be lowered as much as 90%.

Nocturnal (being active at night) behavior is one very effective and common way of avoiding the heat. Bat departures at dusk are the beginning of a night full of feeding activity. Snakes, skunks and opossums are examples of native animals with nocturnal behavior. To nature lovers made uncomfortable at the sight of snakes, be thankful!

Texas horned lizards, known locally as horny toads, use a behavior during summer rain events known as "rain-harvesting." These reptiles will lower their heads and arch their backs high in the air during precipitation events. During small rain events, most of the rain hitting the ground dissipates into the dry ground very quickly. However, moisture falling on the horned lizard is caught on its backs and drawn toward its head through very small channels between its scales. Instead of seeking standing water, the Texas horned lizard can simply open its mouth to drink.

Black and Turkey Vultures, both very common in Texas, use a more unsavory technique called urohydrosis to maintain body heat. These birds will excrete urine on their bare legs. Evaporation of the urine cools these areas and the cooled blood is then circulated in the body. Two additional coping methods used by vultures include spending daytime hours in flight at high altitudes where temperatures are much cooler and acquiring moisture through the carrion they consume.

The bodies of many animals have evolved in certain ways to deal with harsh conditions. Jackrabbits dissipate heat through their extremely large ears containing many blood vessels. In fact, jackrabbits occurring in more southern areas have larger ears than others occurring in cooler areas.

One widespread adaptation is for warm-blooded, wide-ranging animals occurring in warmer environments to be smaller in size than their counterparts occurring in cooler environment. Within a species, body mass tends to increase with latitude and colder climates. This pattern, known as Bergmann's rule, is based on heat conservation. Smaller body size is selected in warmer environments because smaller bodies have higher surface area to mass ratios, thus allowing for the more effective dissipation in heat. For example, body sizes of white-tailed deer in Texas are much smaller than those occurring in Canada.

The next time you get geared up for a hot day of bumming around at the beach, floating the Frio, or getting some work done on your property, take a second to think about nature's critters. While you won't see deer bedding down in air-conditioning or turkeys sporting cowboy hats anytime soon, know that Texas wildlife are built to survive.

From our customized Wildlife Management Plans to convert your land from an Ag Tax Valuation or Timber Valuation to Wildlife Tax Valuation, to our range of environmentally and financially smart services and products, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management is dedicated to increasing your enjoyment of your land, and helping you achieve your ultimate land vision.

AFTER THE FIRE

By Shane Kiefer, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

Immediately after the fire. A Plateau team member's family property in Scurry County, April 2011.

The recent wildfires have wreaked havoc, claiming lives and property. Natural disasters such as this bring into stark contrast the sometimes competing interests of people and the world we inhabit. Chances are you have already seen stories about the benefits that the fires will have for wildlife: renewed vigor of plants, reduction of invasive plant species, and (when the rains come) an explosion of new growth providing food and cover for wildlife and livestock. After mentioning these benefits to a friend, she asked if any other natural disasters come with similar silver linings for wildlife. That's the kind of question that makes my day.

The fact is that most, if not all, natural disasters have positive aspects to them (the horrendous toll they can take on family, friends, and property, notwithstanding). The important thing to consider is that these disasters do not happen in order to create these positive outcomes. Conversely, the lesson is that plants and animals have evolved to take advantage of these disturbances. What amazes me most is that there is always some form of life waiting in the wings to take advantage of opportunities presented by these catastrophic events. Perhaps more importantly, the natural history of many species is such that they rely on these natural processes to create or restore their habitats. Not all species will benefit, but healthy lands recover more quickly because the diversity of plants and animals there know how to deal with disaster.

Flooding brings nutrient-laden sediment to floodplains. Healthy plants capture that sediment and build the floodplain up. In the massive river deltas of Louisiana, this creates the very wetlands that define the southern part of the state and provide hurricane protection. Aquatic and wetland-dependent species will have a boom year in the heavily flooded Southeastern U.S. Concentrating floodwaters into deep, levee-protected channels prevents this process from occurring, resulting in erosion and the dumping of sediments into the Gulf. On a more local level, healthy rivers and floodplains provide tremendous benefits to wildlife while protecting our lands from erosion.

Fire, wind and ice storms, and some insect infestations in forests open up pockets in the canopy, creating "edge" that allows light to reach the understory, resulting in growth of shade-intolerant grasses and shrubs that provide food and cover for many species of wildlife. This, of course, is to the detriment of forest species that rely on large, uninterrupted stands of intact canopy.

Oak wilt, which many landowners will heartily agree is a slow-moving natural disaster on their land, creates new snags (dead trees) that are habitat for insects, animals that feed on them, and cavity-nesting species like Eastern bluebirds and woodpeckers. On a recent site visit with a landowner in Kerr County, I was able to show him the abundance of low-shrub growth occurring beneath several dead oaks, which was providing excellent low food and cover for deer, quail, songbirds, and other wildlife. Healthy lands have an abundance of tree species, many of which will not be susceptible to oak wilt, and will flourish in the aftermath. If live oak is all you have, oak wilt can be devastating.

Even drought, for which it may be hard to find a silver lining, helps set the stage for fires. It can also reduce decadent plant growth, even without fire, and encourages a flush of annual forbs and other weedy species when the rains return that doves, deer, seed-eating songbirds, and many other species rely upon. Think about how many spring weeds you have in your yard following a hard summer with watering restrictions when your sod cannot get as thick and lush as you might like.

Some of these relationships and adaptations provide what are collectively termed "ecosystem services". These are benefits that accrue to us from the natural world and are often thought to be more economical than human-engineered solutions. Floodplains that reduce sediment loads and filter floodwaters give us cleaner water and reduce the need for dredging our ship channels. The same goes for healthy grasslands, woodlands, and forests in the uplands of watersheds, like those that occur on your lands. Some of these services were lost long ago (millions of Eskimo Curlews eating untold tons of crop-damaging insects on the Great Plains comes to mind), but many are still intact and functioning on your lands. Sometimes these processes must be balanced with human needs, but my hope is that at least you learn about and consider them before taking action.

Between May 2010 and April 2011, Plateau helped over 160 landowners put approximately 25,000 acres under new wildlife management plans. We also updated plans on at least that many acres. This is a fact that we as a company (and I, personally, as a biologist) take great pride in. With sound management, the lands that have joined us over the last year are healthier and better equipped to handle natural disasters, both large and small, if they come.

THE FISHER, THE FROG, AND THE WATERSNAKE

By Craig Bowen, Fabulist/Business Development Coordinator, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

I am no Aesop, but I was a character in a fable, once…

Not so long ago in a land not so far away, the Bullfrog lived in a large pond. A fisherman owned this pond, and kept a wide variety of creepy-crawly-slithery-swimmy-fluttery-hoppy creatures there.

One cloudy morning, the Fisher ventured to his pond to catch some fish to eat. From his small vessel, the Fisher cast his fly over and over, but no fish would bite. The Bullfrog, sitting low in the water and completely unaware of the Fisher's presence, waited patiently for his own meal as the Fisher made his way around the shoreline.

Suddenly, a fat, gray fly landed in front of the frog. Surreptitiously he dove underwater, coming up just in front of the fly.

"I will attack," the Bullfrog thinks.

And he does, water rushing past his tympanic membranes, flooding his mouth, and washing into his eyes as he kept them on his target. In an instant, the scrumptious fly was in his mouth. Something, though, was amiss - the fly bit, shook, and pulled on his lips; he was forced out into deeper water and pulled into the air towards the light. Soon, the frog was in the Fisher's hands, a being such as the frog had never seen.

The Fisher removed the biting fly, and stared at the frog for what seemed liked hours. The Fisher gently released the Bullfrog back into the water. Hurriedly, he jumped onto the shore. There he sat, reflecting on the last few minutes' calamitous events.

"That was a narrow escape," thought Bullfrog. "I do not know why that being let me live, but I will bask on this bank in thankfulness so as to not tempt it to come back after me." So there he sat in the beautiful sunlight, preoccupied on the morning's bittersweet happenings...

The Snake, though, had other plans. She had also been hunting this morning, and witnessed this peculiar episode from a clump of grass in the bank. As snakes do, she studied the frog from a distance, weighing the benefits and risks of expending the energy to catch such a large meal.

"It will take much effort," she mused, "but a meal that large would last for some time. Moreover, the Bullfrog is overwhelmed by his recent encounter with the Fisher. He would be easy to catch unawares."

Having made her decision, she began moving forward. Though she was behind the frog, she advanced slowly, using her serpentine muscles to contract and relax slowly, invisibly moving her forward. She noticed the Fisher had spotted her and was watching from the bank, but he posed no threat. Keeping her eye on the prize she reached striking distance. WHAM! She coiled half her body and struck almost instantaneously, leaping forward with blinding speed. The strike met its mark, and soon she had the Bullfrog's entire right leg in her mouth.

The Bullfrog struggled and pulled, but his soft skin would not allow him leverage to escape the Snake's re-curved teeth. The Fisher, still watching from his fishing vessel, watched the struggle for a very long time. Just as the Snake pulled the Bullfrog up the bank away from the water, the Bullfrog would struggle and fight his way towards the water, almost reaching it each time before being pulled away again.

"I am so very tired," thought the Bullfrog. "I will try just one more time to escape, but I am not sure how much more I have left in me."

So, the Bullfrog mustered all his strength and lunged forward toward the water. The Snake was surprised by the strength the Bullfrog had left, and lost her grip on the Bullfrog. He made it into the water, and dropped quickly under water to his freedom. The Snake was unhappy about losing her catch, but opportunities to eat came often, and there would be another chance soon.

Moral: Keep a watchful eye, especially when things are going your way.

 

Photos of the fable captured by our fabulist (on his iPhone) in video montage on YouTube, above.

"ORPHANED" WILDLIFE BABIES

Wildlife babies usually spend lots of time away from their parents. They have not been abandoned. Photo by Lee Kothmann.

Spring and summer are the seasons for wildlife babies! Each year, Plateau receives phone calls from people wondering how to care for a baby animal that appears to have been orphaned. In most cases, these well-meaning humans have taken the baby in and are attempting to help. This endeavor is difficult, time-consuming, and often not successful. So, what should one do when a baby animal is found?

The first step in caring for a baby animal is to determine whether the baby is truly an orphan. Baby animals usually spend lots of time away from their parents. For example, if you see a fawn by itself, be reassured that mothers leave their babies for hours, even all day, to forage for food. It is possible to never see the mother. The Drift Inn Wildlife Sanctuary in Driftwood, Texas, reports that 85% of the fawns brought to their facility essentially have been "kidnapped" from their mother by well-meaning people.

Next, consider fledgling birds. People often see baby birds that are partially feathered sitting on the ground below a tree and automatically assume that they fell out of the nest and need to be helped. At this stage of development, they are considered "fledglings." Fledglings normally will jump or fall out of the nest. This is their "flight training" stage. The mother bird will then continue feeding the baby on the ground until the bird is able to fly (usually within a few days). Unless injured, these birds should be left where they are. Efforts should be made to keep cats, dogs, and curious children away from the bird so the mother can continue to feed it.

Baby birds with few or no feathers are called "nestlings." Nestlings are sometimes found as a result of high winds blowing the nest out of a tree or a sibling may have knocked a baby out of the nest. At this stage, it is critical for the baby's parents to continue to care for him if at all possible. If you find the nest, simply put the baby back in the nest and watch for the parents to come back. If you are unable to reach the nest, create an artificial nest from a shallow bowl with holes in the bottom and lined with paper towels. Put that nest as close to the natural one as possible. In most cases, the parents will find the baby and continue to care for it.

People are often worried that because they touched the baby bird, its parents will abandon it. This is simply not true. Except for vultures, birds generally have a very bad sense of smell. Parents detecting that the baby has been handled by a human is very unlikely.

If you find the baby bird is truly injured, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator right away. (To find wildlife rehabilitators in your county, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website).

Put the injured baby into a warm, dark, and quiet place until it can be transported to a rehabilitator. Do not try to give the bird any fluids. Most birds get all of the moisture they need from the food they are fed by their parents. Liquids can be inhaled and cause big problems for the baby.

Most injured babies are given the best opportunity for survival when they are turned over to licensed wildlife rehabilitators. These people have received proper training and hold all of the appropriate state and federal permits to treat injured wildlife. It is important to know that most birds are protected by federal law and that is illegal to have them in your possession - even if you are trying to help!

Another commonly found baby animal is the Fox Squirrel. These squirrels build their nests in trees. It is not uncommon for their nests to be blown down or the limb holding the nest to break and drop the babies on the ground. The best thing to do in this case is to put the babies inside of a box and put the box at the base of the tree. Keep dogs, cats, and people away from the box as much as possible. The mother will come to retrieve the babies when humans and predators are away. If you find the baby is injured, put it in a box with a towel for warmth, and contact a wildlife rehabilitator right away.

For information about caring for other types of baby animals, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for "Orphaned and Injured Animals" information.