PLATEAU LAND AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT NEWS

"WHAT HAPPENS IF...": ESTATE PLANNING FOR LANDOWNERS (PART 2)

2011-12-20T17:07:00.002-06:00

The last edition of Seasons* discussed the simple steps you can take to protect your property in the event of mental disability. In addition to creating financial and medical powers of attorney to avoid a Court conservatorship, a conscientious landowner should also prepare other documents as part of a comprehensive estate plan, such as a will or revocable trust or documents establishing an ownership entity such as a partnership, or limited liability company..

Here is the second issue every landowner should consider.

What happens to my property when I die?

You have two choices. 1) Plan for an orderly disposition of everything your own - your estate. Or 2) Fail to plan. The horror stories in the news about the probate process usually involve people who did not plan their affairs. These people have an estate plan which can be called the "No Plan" estate plan. Under the "No Plan" estate plan, the State and Federal governments and the Courts step in to make decisions for you.

The government plan includes the federal and state laws and court cases including:

the state intestacy statute determines who receives your assets at death, and if there is no one to receive it, the State takes title, and
tax laws, including estate taxes, that determine how much of your assets will be confiscated by the government.

This "No Plan" estate plan is the most expensive plan for you and your loved ones, and usually produces the most disastrous results.

THE SOLUTION

The good news is that it is relatively easy to implement a comprehensive estate plan. Thoughtful estate planning allows you to protect your property and provide for your loved ones. You can transfer your property with an much or as little control as they may need and as you desire, and in ways which protect their inheritance from creditors and predators, while saving every possible administrative expense, transfer cost, tax dollar, attorney fee and court cost you can.

If you are creating an estate plan to transfer your land and other assets, you have three choices: 1) Use a will. Or 2) Use a revocable trust. Or 3) Create a business entity and design a succession strategy including provisions for the transfer of ownership at death. Often these three work together to produce the best result for the control and distribution of your land

A well-drafted will names an executor to administer your estate and carry out your wishes, names a guardian for any minor children, provides a comprehensive scheme to distribute your personal property and your land, and sometimes creates trusts to hold property for the benefit of loved ones. To distribute the property the will must usually be admitted to probate court in the County where you live or own land. In Texas you can minimize the costs associated with probate by providing for independent administration of your estate. Although wills can be contested in court, it is difficult to overturn your wishes for your property.

Alternatively, you can create a revocable trust while you are alive, place your property in the trust before you die, and avoid the probate process entirely at death. You can be the trustee of your trust while you are alive to maintain control of the trust and your property. You can change, amend or revoke the trust entirely as you see fit. At death, a successor trustee you name steps in to manage the trust assets and make distributions according to your instructions. The trustee is bound by law to follow your exact instructions. The time, trouble and expense of probate can be avoided, although a revocable trust can be more challenging to manage while you are alive.

If your land is owned in a business entity, then the way the ownership interest in the limited partnership or limited liability company is transferred controls what happens to the land. Company agreements often include buy-sell provisions and limitations on the transfer of ownership interest to keep land in the family. If the decedent's share of a business interest is sold at death then the proceeds can be controlled by the will or trust.

Regardless of whether you use a will or trust to manage and distribute your property, or coordinate these with a business entity, you are wise to begin the planning process by consulting a knowledgeable estate planning attorney.

* To read Part One, visit:

plateaulandwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-happens-if-estate-planning-for.html

TOP 10 LEGAL TIPS FOR THE OWNER OF RURAL LAND IN TEXAS

2011-12-20T17:05:00.000-06:00

By Braun & Gresham, Attorneys at Law and Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

The owner of rural land in Texas...

Should not hold property in their own name, except their homestead.

Should claim their rights under Texas laws that limit liability.

Should claim all their homestead rights, if they live on their land.

Should have a will and special plans for leaving rural land to heirs.

Should fight for a fair price and reasonable limits if their land is condemned.

Should remove all possible exceptions to their title and title insurance policy.

Should use written hunting and grazing leases specifically drafted for their land.

Should maintain the lowest possible property tax rates on their land.

Should protest the market value of their land for property tax.

Should know there is no minimum acreage for open space valuations, except in subdivisions.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: WINTER AND WILDLIFE (JANUARY - MARCH)

2011-12-20T17:02:00.000-06:00

Wildlife management activities to consider for January - March:

BRUSH MANAGEMENT
While the cool of spring might be the most enticing time of year to fire up a chainsaw to clear brush, this type of "spring cleaning" might actually be detrimental to the wildlife you are trying to protect. Spring is a familial time of year for all the mama and the papa animals -- the whine of a saw and the disturbance of brush are not conducive to reproductive activities; nesting may be disrupted and newborns stressed. Rather, it is a much better practice to do your important brush thinning and habitat improvement now, before spring has sprung, or wait until the hot summer months.

MOWING (OR NOT MOWING, RATHER)
Another time-sensitive activity is mowing native meadows, it is important to not do so too early in the season. It is a much more effective practice to let the grass and wildflowers stand undisturbed until they go to seed. If you watch the plants carefully in the late spring and summer, you will actually see the many ways that seeds are formed and dispersed. Occasional mowing at the right time, in the right amount, and correct patterns can be important to the health of a grassland, but allowing nature to run its course is the best possible method of reseeding.

FIRE ANT CONTROL
While it is typically in the heat of the summer when seething fire ant rage really takes hold as mounds of imported red fire ants dot the land, Plateau finds the key time for fire ant control actually begins in March and winds down in June, before throes of summer and toes in sandals. Treatment starts up again in September after the hot, dry summer ends, and before the cold, wet of winter. Why this timing? It's a temperature issue. When the ants are cold, or hot, they go deep into the ground for temperature regulation and do not actively forage above ground. They also go deep during dry periods in order to find moisture, and come above ground during wet periods to avoid drowning. Now is the time to get on the schedule.

NEST BOX MAINTENANCE
For some birds, breeding season begins as early as February and for those who do not have Plateau maintain your nest boxes, consider this a friendly reminder that your boxes need to be checked and readied by the start of February. Some birds will not use boxes with abandoned nests in them, plus, removing debris (and other little critters who may have snuggled in for the winter) creates a healthier environment for the next brood of nestlings.

PURPLE MARTIN BOX INSTALLATIONS
Purple Martins have been managed intentionally by humans longer than any other North American songbird. Today, whether for their beauty, song, or voracious appetite for pesky flying insects, an estimated 1 million North Americans provide housing for Purple Martins. Due to a decline in natural nesting sites (such as tree cavities) as a result of urban sprawl, farming and logging, as well as competition from the non-native House Sparrow and European Starling, human-provided housing and management has become vital to Purple Martins, especially east of the Rocky Mountains, where they have undergone a complete "tradition shift". Purple Martins are now the only bird species entirely dependent on humans for supplying them with nesting cavities. Purple Martins arrive in Texas around the first half of February. Installation of Purple Martin boxes by Plateau's expert field technicians is currently underway and will finish up for the season in February. Contact us for more details.

SPRING BREEDING BIRD CENSUS
Our Spring Breeding Bird Census (BBC) is conducted during the breeding season -- approximately mid-March through early June. These popular surveys begin at sunrise for the "dawn chorus" and give you the opportunity to walk your land accompanied by a skilled birdwatcher. This is a fantastic learning experience, not only for information about birds, but you can learn more about your land as well.

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

WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

2011-12-20T16:57:00.003-06:00

By Shane Kiefer, CWB®, Senior Wildlife Biologist

With over $500 million in losses,the 2011 wildfire season was the most expensive in Texas history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. The Bastrop Fire alone was more destructive than any single year in history with $325 million in losses. In the past year, wildfires statewide have destroyed nearly 4 million acres and more than 2,900 homes, killing 10 people.

You have probably heard many of these statistics before. While they are scary, it might seem difficult to determine how you, as a landowner, can have any impact. The natural inclination is to go out and do big things that you hope will solve the problem or protect you. The problem is that big things are not always the right choice.

When it comes to ecological issues one of my favorite mantras is: "The quicker the fix, the higher the risk, and the greater the cost."

The good news regarding wildfires is that they are really only a problem when they threaten our property or lives. Fire is an important part of the ecology of our state. We cannot, and should not, rid the landscape of fire. That policy was tested in the western U.S. in the 20th century and resulted in catastrophic fires including the famous Yellowstone Fires of 1988. What we should do is address fires at the point where they threaten property and lives: the wildland/urban interface. This term includes any area where human habitat (houses, barns, etc.) meet wildlife habitat, so it is not limited to those sprawling suburbs with greenbelts.

The place where that fire threatens your house, barn, livestock, or life is where your action needs to occur. More good news: that area is relatively small. This makes it easy to create what should be the focus of any rural landowner: defensible space. Defensible space is an area around a structure that is managed to reduce the threat of wildfire reaching the structure and one that can be protected in the event it is threatened by wildfire. This space does not have to be large. Even if you went to an extreme of 200 feet from your house, that's only 3 acres that needs management. Compare the cost of that to the cost of managing 300, 3,000, or 30,000 acres of the landscape.

How should this space be managed? That depends on each particular situation including vegetation, topography, surrounding landscape, etc. Plateau has Texas Forest Service certified "Citizen Wildlife Ecology Specialists" on staff to help you identify your particular risk level and to help you mitigate your risk in the event you are ever threatened by fire. Many of the steps to reduce your risk are inexpensive and simple to do. While nothing can guarantee protection from fire, you can reduce your risk and increase the chances your home will survive. And with the right advice, it is a whole lot easier than you might think.

With over $500 million in losses,the 2011 wildfire season was the most expensive in Texas history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. Photo: Texas Forest Service.

SNAKES 101: MYTHBUSTING

2011-12-20T16:55:00.002-06:00

By Shantel Lewis, Products and Services Division Administrator

Few creatures instill more fear and are subject to more mythical misconceptions than snakes. Here are a few myths and truths about snakes.

Myth: Venomous snakes are out to get you (and bite you for no reason)
Truth: Snakes bite out of fear (being stepped on, being cornered, etc.) or to attack prey their size, such as a mouse or a bird. Venom creation requires energy and snakes, just like any other animal, strive to maintain all the energy they can. A snake bite can be avoided by being careful while walking around known venomous snake territory. Step carefully and if you come upon a venomous snake, do not give it a reason to strike (such as poking it!).

Myth: Snakes are slimy
Truth: Anyone who has held a snake knows that they are not at all slimy Snakes have hard, dry scales covering their entire body. Their ventral scales are specially designed to grip surfaces and their latitudinal and longitudinal muscles help with the well-known "slithering" motion. They shed their skin every few weeks but that process slows as they age and becomes every few months. A snake sheds in one piece, like a sock being rolled off your foot.

Myth: Snakes can squeeze you to death
Truth: Actually, yes, they can. But you're safe in Texas. Burmese and reticulate pythons have been known to suffocate their careless owners and, in a heartbreaking case brought to trial in 2011 in Florida, a 2 year old toddler was strangled to death by the family's pet python. However, these snakes are not native to Texas or the United States, for that matter. While their populations in the wild in Florida are growing to dangerous levels thanks to the shameful actions of people who buy them as exotic pets and then dump them when they become too large to manage, fortunately, this problem has not invaded Texas. Certainly people will operate outside of the law, but in Texas you must hold a license to own non-indigenous (species not native to Texas) venomous snakes and the following constrictors: African rock python (Python sebae), Asiatic rock python (Python molurus), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), reticulated python (python reticulates), and southern African python (Python natalensis). While most of our state's native snakes are nonvenomous and rely on constriction to kill their supper, there are no snakes native to Texas that are even remotely large enough to squeeze you to death. As long as your outdoor adventures are within the Texas borders you're safe.

Ultimately, most wild snakes will do what they're programmed to do -- slither away quickly before being captured or, if captured, attempt to get out of your hands and back to a safe hiding place. As with all wildlife, respect the snake and the snake will respect you.

Shantel safely captured this photo of rattlesnake. If you come upon a venomous snake, do not give it a reason to bite.

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: A QUICK LOOK AT THE QUAIL AND SMALL WILDLIFE STATION

2011-12-20T16:49:00.000-06:00

By Tim Milligan, Landowner Services

While on a property installing a quail station the other day, it dawned on me that there is a simple way to explain what we are trying to do with this great new product, and a simple reason why it makes so much sense.

The property where we did the install is the landowner's country place, a piece of land the family loves but is not as centrally located as their city place, where they make their home -- a place close to jobs and schools and day-to-day conveniences.

Where I grew up in Austin was the city equivalent to good quail habitat. We lived where we did because of the area. There were nicer areas I'm sure, but none that I know of were quite as complete as my neighborhood. There were grocery stores, gas stations, a hardware store, banks, schools, a hospital, restaurants and a park, all within walking distance. We lived there because at any given time we didn't have to venture far to get anything we needed and most things we wanted.

A quail lives life much the same way and by many of the same rules we do. They need a great neighborhood where they can put down roots and raise a family. The less they have to travel to get what they need, the better chance they'll have of making it from year to year and bringing up young. If they can find a place that meets their needs for both habitat and food in close proximity, they'll stay there and not leave until something changes.

The Plateau Quail and Small Wildlife Station helps provide vital pieces of that habitat neighborhood and, by doing so, provides a boost to your quail and other small wildlife's survival by keeping their travel time to a minimum. If these vulnerable little species have to spend too much time out in the open looking to satisfy any one need, they will not last long -- or they will just find some place better suited to their way of life.

Whether you have done a considerable amount of work to create habitat, or have been blessed with great cover and nesting grasses from the very beginning, you may still be lacking a couple of key ingredients for your quail, songbirds and other small wildlife. Think about adding a grocery store and gas station to the neighborhood and just see if the number of families in the area doesn't increase over time. As it becomes more convenient to live there, you may end up with the most desirable wildlife neighborhood.

The Quail and Small Wildlife Station is available from Plateau and is a great fit for almost any property. Contact us to discuss your goals and habitat and see if the Plateau Quail and Small Wildlife Station is the right new addition to your neighborhood.

Welcome to the neighborhood. The Plateau Quail and Small Wildlife Station.

MILLICAN RESERVE HOSTS SUCCESSFUL YOUTH HUNT

2011-12-20T16:46:00.001-06:00

By Kasey Mock, Account Manager - Texas Pines & Prairies
with Bill Bebee, Texas Youth Hunt Program, Hunt Master

Stretching out across 2,800 acres in the Texas Brazos Valley, Millican Reserve is an exciting development designed to set a new standard for stewardship and interactive planning. Set in a vast and pristine natural setting near College Station, Texas, the natural beauty and rich heritage of this place creates an authentic and healthy community to live, work, and play in while staying engaged with the land.

Early in the planning phase, the owners of Millican Reserve looked to Plateau Land & Wildlife Management as their partner in conservation. With the placement of a Wildlife Management Plan, Millican Reserve has been able to retain a favorable tax valuation without grazing pressure from livestock. By utilizing additional management activities such as habitat planning, nature trails, supplemental shelter, and census of indigenous wildlife, the property has seen a tremendous improvement in diversity of species and improvement of habitat which will set this project apart from other rural developments.

Recently, Millican Reserve hosted a successful Texas Youth Hunting Program hunt, allowing seven youth hunters to harvest four doe on the 2-day hunt. This is great opportunity to pass on our hunting heritage while helping the landowner meet their wildlife management objectives. Texas Youth Hunting Program is a partnership of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association in San Antonio, Texas. Over the course of the hunting program weekend, youth ages 9 to 17 are educated on safe, legal and ethical hunting practices.

For information on Millican Reserve visit millicanreserve.com.
For information on the Texas Youth Hunting Program visit texasyouthhunting.com.

Texas Youth Hunting Program is a partnership of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association in San Antonio, Texas.

UP IN THE SKY! IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE...NO, IT'S DEFINITELY A BIRD!: THE NORTHERN HARRIER

2011-12-20T16:41:00.001-06:00

By James Hall, Staff Biologist - Wildlife Planning Administrator

For many people, the word "Harrier" conjures images of gleaming, vertical-takeoff fighter jets roaring through the sky at nearly the speed of sound. For those of us grounded in a quiet, subsonic life, a Harrier is a very different type of winged predator, and it is best observed through binoculars rather than a NORAD radar, though the sighting may be equally as thrilling.

The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), a medium-sized hawk found throughout North America and across the northern latitudes of Eurasia, arrives in Texas during the winter months, coursing over live oak-mesquite savannahs, marshes, and farmlands. Though many diurnal (active in the daytime) raptors can give amateur bird watchers difficulty in identification, Harriers exhibit uniquely distinct features, such as an obvious white rump, and an owl-like facial disc visible from below. Unlike other hawks that rely mostly on sight to search for a meal, Harriers also depend on noise produced from prey, as they glide low over their hunting ground. The facial discs consist of stiff feathers allowing for greater transmission of sound, intensifying their hunting efforts. Following a swift and calculated pounce, prey such as small mammals, birds, and reptiles, will suddenly find themselves in the deadly embrace of talon and feather. Most wintering Harriers visiting central Texas are first-winter juveniles, which more closely resemble adult females. They typically have rust-colored bodies at an earlier age, or streaked chest, barred fan-like tail feathers, and a dark head. Breeding adult males will appear a clean white from underneath, and pale gray from above, with darker wingtips.

Much like their aluminum alloy technological cousins of the sky, Northern Harriers are tactical and auspicious predators. Keep your eyes peeled over open grasslands for a these hawks, coursing but a few feet above the earth -- just don't expect to see them featured at any future air shows.

Northern Harrier

IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME: WILDLIFE SEEKING REFUGE FROM DROUGHT

2011-12-20T16:36:00.000-06:00

By Kasey Mock, Account Manager - Texas Pines & Prairies

The 1989 movie Field of Dreams tells the story of an Iowa corn farmer played by Kevin Costner who felt lead to build a baseball diamond in his fields. Those who have seen the classic film will recall the famous line: "If you build it, they will come." Now, pretend you are Kevin Costner, and the Black Sox represent local wildlife populations. Rather than looking for a place to play ball, they are searching for a steady supply of food and water that is quickly vanishing from many parts of the state.

"If you build it, they will come" is never truer than in a serious drought. La Nina has taken its tool on the Lone Star State leaving dry tanks and limited forage in its wake And despite the recent rains, there will be no quick fix for the ravages left in La Nina's wake. Wildlife and domestic animals alike are still actively searching throughout the day for food, water, and shelter, needs that Plateau is helping Wildlife Management property owners supply.

We have received many emails from clients sharing their success stories during the drought. Client reports of the first sightings of Bobwhite quail in over a decade, more and bigger deer, and increased diversity have been common threads as animals are forced to leave over-grazed pastures in search of the basic necessities.

"Great news Kasey, I saw a pair of Bobwhite Quail at 12:10 today, Sunday, August 28, 2011. This is the first we've seen in over ten years on the property! - Bob"

"Ever since June we have noticed several new big bucks showing up at one of our water tanks at dusk just about every night. We don't put out food, but they have adequate browse and forbs on the property." - Carolyn

These are just two examples of the results Plateau clients are experiencing in Texas. By managing pastures to promote native plants, providing a quality supplemental food source, and, most importantly providing a dependable source of clean water, property owners are doing their part to supply the three basic necessities to local wildlife.

As property owners and managers, we bear the responsibility to be good stewards of these resources. Stewardship is defined as the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care. I would encourage you to do a quick evaluation of your management activities. If your wildlife numbers have decreased this is a sign that you could be doing more to supply their needs.

Have you seen more wildlife this year? Send us your stories! Email plateau@plateauwildlife.com.

Plateau has a full line of products and services designed to help you better manage these resources while improving your property and marinating a favorable tax valuation. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.

ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: SERVICE AGREEMENTS

2011-12-20T16:28:00.002-06:00

By Kameron Bain, Business Development

Wow, another year at Plateau has flown by full of new adventures and many lessons learned. I am so amazed how year after year my knowledge of not only the wildlife management valuation but of land and wildlife in general keeps growing. I always thought I had to leave the Plateau office to find adventure, but over the past few months I went on adventures with many members of my team without leaving the cool, and just recently warm, comfort of the office.

As over 200 of Plateau landowners know when the air starts to cool and pumpkins start being replaced by wreathes and bright lights, Service Agreement proposals start hitting the email boxes. While it may seem to just suddenly appear like an unexpected surprise, there is a lot of planning and research that goes on behind the scenes. Plateau Service Agreements are annual contracts that assist landowners in fulfilling the goals of their wildlife management plan as well as other property goals or interest of individual landowners. Agreements can include everything from Annual Reports to feeder re-fills to bird surveys to consulting time with your biologist to learn more about your piece of land. I personally love service agreements. It is in my nature to make lists and spreadsheets and to plan and organize. I love seeing all the activities lined out so the landowner can view what will be done over the coming year. I was excited to uses some of my strengths to assist our landowners.

The adventure all started back in September when the Plateau biology team reviewed the 2011 agreements and offered recommendations on changes, additions or input they received from the landowner. Meanwhile our products and services team was busy creating a more efficient site visit structure based on the number of nest boxes and new options to re-charge rainwater collections systems, and re-fill and re-charge our newest product, the Quail and Small Wildlife Station. All was going very smooth. That was until the October bump in the road, a few weeks of technology issues stalled the process. Oh well, best laid plans.

By November, life in the office returned back to normal and it was time to build the agreements. I could not have done this part without my service agreement partner in crime, Steve Parker. Steve is Plateau's Products and Services Manager who is committed to giving each landowner exceptional client service. Hours upon hours were spent pouring over client history to make sure all bases had been covered to ensure that each individual client was in compliance with the wildlife management guidelines. 2011 log sheets were reviewed to check on missing nest boxes, and products and services suggestions made by our awesome wildlife services technicians. Slowly, we put all the pieces together to build each agreement, sometimes with multiple reviews by the biologist or account manager.

With the change of seasons this December, almost all of our 2012 Wildlife Management Services Agreement are in the clients hands. Now the fun can begin when I can interact with the clients, discuss their property and look forward to a new year. I have to give a very special Thank You to Steve. From Steve I learned a lot about wildlife management guidelines for many activities, how to view agreement in terms of compliance and more importantly that exceptional client service means to doing your due diligence and leaving no stone unturned. I am so proud to work with someone who takes care of our clients as well as Steve does.

Until, next Seasons and next service agreement season, have a Happy Holiday.

CREATING BUTTERFLY HABITAT: A NOVEL WAY TO EXECUTE ON YOUR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN

2011-12-20T16:23:00.000-06:00

By Monika Maeckle, Plateau client

When my husband and I first bought our property on the Llano River back in 2000, I had no idea we were on the Monarch butterfly migration flyway. Soon after signing the papers, we started camping at the top of our hill and exploring our stretch of the Llano.

It wasn't until five years later that we began to notice Monarch butterflies each spring and fall. I say "we didn't notice" because we weren't paying attention. They were there, we just didn't see them because we weren't looking.

That all changed in 2005. One fall afternoon my friend Jenny Singleton invited us to "come tag Monarchs" at her family's place on the San Saba River outside Menard. We didn't know what to expect, but even now the memories of that delightful day make me smile.

Over on the San Saba, Dallas natives Jenny and husband Matt play host to thousands of Monarch butterflies roosting in their pecan trees every mid-October as they migrate through Texas to their winter roosts in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico. Jenny, an avid naturalist and teacher, organizes "tagging weekends" whereby groups of visiting friends help her net and tag the migrating Monarchs, later submitting the data to Monarch Watch, which oversees the citizen scientist program from the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

That day in 2005 my husband and I trotted along the Sabinal River bottom, long handled nets reaching into the pecans, where colorful clumps of Monarchs were resting on their journey south. After netting the Monarchs we carefully transferred them to ice chests to await the "tag team," which recorded their sex and then affixed a tiny weightless, numbered tag on to the discal cell of each butterfly's wing.

Our first experience reaching into the nets alive with Monarchs to gently extract them one at a time for tagging left us hooked. The Monarch is one of nature's most beautiful and noble creatures, remarkable for its migratory endurance.

That weekend changed our approach to wildlife management. Before, we were focused on deer, turkey, pigs, birds and fish. Now, creating butterfly habitat tops our list of wildlife management responsibilities.

How does one create a butterfly habitat on your property?

The exercise entails increasing the wildflower population, especially butterfly-friendly nectar and host plants. Depending on your property, it might mean simply providing more sun to areas already occupied by wildflowers.

We recently created a "riverwalk" on the banks of the Llano which resulted in more Goldenrod and Frostweed-attractive Fall nectar sources for butterflies. The task involved simply clearing a trail through the pervasive Poverty Weed that dominated our riverbanks.

For the last three years, we've thrown seedballs packed with Antelope Horn, Cowpen Daisy, and Jimsonweed seeds-host plants to Monarch butterflies, the Bordered Patch and the dramatic Sphinx Moth, respectively--onto recently cleared areas of our property. With the historic drought, results have been mixed, tied completely to the weather.

But we remain hopeful as recent rains drench the ranch. Now is prime time for planting wildflowers: plant them and butterflies will come. Talk to your Plateau consultant to find out what might work for your property.

Monika Maeckle, a principal of the Arsenal Group, a communications consultancy, is a Master Gardener, avid butterfly evangelist and caterpillar wrangler. She has tagged more than 1,500 Monarch butterflies and had 22 recovered in Michoacan. She writes about butterflies and their life cycle at www.texasbutterflyranch.com. You can find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @butterflybeat. Email butterfly questions to Monika at butterflybeat@gmail.com.

MY OUTDOOR HERITAGE

2011-12-20T16:17:00.000-06:00

By Craig Bowen, Account Manager - Hill Country North

I was standing over a human cadaver performing an academic autopsy when I realized I wanted to devote my career to rural land and the associated people. I will admit this is a curious situation in which to reach such a decision, but a little background information will help in understanding.

I grew up surrounded by rural land management, primarily ranching and farming, at the base of the Llano Estacado region of Texas. As many young people in my position do, I took for granted the freedom of hunting and fishing whenever I wanted, solitarily roaming the pastures and fields at my discretion, and learning about rural land culture from experienced elders.

My maternal grandfather taught me biology and ecology, and I can remember effortlessly sitting in his considerable lap very early in life pouring through volumes of outdoor encyclopedias, learning about everything from animal identification and behavior to flint knapping; my paternal grandfather took me fishing frequently, and we wandered around various farms and native pastures for hours on end; my father took me hunting in every season, and taught me about the work involved in rural land, from hoeing cotton to breaking ice in livestock water troughs; and my mother made sure she, my father, and I went on frequent camping trips, inhabiting state parks on school-year weekends and even longer jaunts during the summer.

Academically, I was most interested in science. During high school, I attended two science-based leadership camps which changed me forever. The first chronologically was the Buckskin Brigades, a leadership camp designed by the Texas Wildlife Association focused on wildlife management. This camp is 100 rigorous hours of everything from drill-style marches complete with cadences to classroom debates. The second, which my AP Biology teacher recommended me for, was the NYLF/MED (National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine) which is a pre-medical school camp designed to teach high school students what it takes to become a doctor. This camp is what brought me to a well-lit basement in Chicago's Loyola University Medical School standing over the aforementioned cadaver.

The day before the autopsy, I had visited the Chicago Field Museum as an elective event associated with the Forum. As I stood over the dead body, an elderly female whose chest plate had been removed by my partner - who, given her exuberance towards the subject, is almost certainly a surgeon today - I stared at the internal organs and appreciated the fact that I was much more entertained the day prior gazing upon the awe-inspiring maneless, man-eating lions of Tsavo and full skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex. The realization floored me because I had thought of nothing more in the last few years than medical school and all which follows. I enjoyed the rest of my time at Loyola, but my sights were now set on much different things. I eventually attended University and earned degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Agricultural Economics, all the while searching for ways to earn a living serving landowners and helping native Texas wildlife.

Today, I have many outlets directly related to my outdoor heritage: my career, which takes me from property taxes to real estate sales, and my hobbies, which range from shooting sports in arenas all over the country to casting for redfish on the Texas coast. At the Buckskin Brigades when I was 16 years old, Dr. Dale Rollins, who eventually found himself on my Master's committee at Texas A&M University, said to me, "Let your vocation be your avocation," and both are now without question rural land and the outdoors in general.

For most, outdoor heritage means teaching young people to enjoy outdoor sports or simply spend time outdoors for recreation. For me, outdoor heritage became a life full of rural land and the outdoors, and encompasses the way I make my money; the way I spend it; the food I eat; what I teach my son; the time I spend with my wife; the way I process my surroundings; and how I relate to my fellow humans. My friend Justin Dreibelbis, who serves as the Conservation Programs Coordinator with Texas Wildlife Association, put it this way: "Hunters, anglers, and other outdoor sportsmen are the original conservationists, and they pay for conservation across the country. Moreover, I wouldn't have near the relationship I have with my father or grandfather if we had not hunted together."

So, the next time you are enjoying your property and the outdoors, think of others who may not be so lucky, particularly our young people, and make every effort to teach a child something about the outdoors, or take your own children on an open-air adventure.

You never know, it just may define their entire life.

A young Craig Bowen celebrates the outdoors.

*****

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management helps Texas landowners protect and enhance their greatest asset -- their land -- with wildlife management plans, wildlife tax valuation assistance, qualifying wildlife management valuation activities, and more.

Securing the Legacy Video

2011-12-02T10:24:00.000-06:00

We would like to introduce you to another friend of Plateau Land & Wildlife, Wyman Meinzer. Mr. Meinzer is the Texas State Photographer and has a number of wonderful videos documenting the beauty of the Texas landscape. One of his videos, “Securing the Legacy,” documents the critically important work of the Natural Resources Management program at Texas Tech University. Instructing the students in both the ecological history of Texan ecosystems as well as proper management of it is range of ecosystems, the program prepares students to serve as environmental stewards for generations to come. Several Plateau biologists have come from TTU including Shane Kiefer, our very own Senior Biologist, shown in the video. We invite you to check out the video below.

Securing The Legacy from Wyman Meinzer on Vimeo.

Texas Forest Services Certifies Plateau Land & Wildlife to offer Wildfire Risk Assessments

2011-11-07T16:42:00.001-06:00

Plateau has recently completed the Texas Forest Service training class to learn the best practices of assessing risks and making recomendations to improve safety in case of a wildfire. Lexi Maxwell, of the Texas Forest Service said that Plateau was wonderful to teach because they are wonderful biologist who already understand the land and plants. Plateau will offer this service to any rural landowner that wants to protect their land and property.
The following Plateau employees completed the class and carry the title

CERTIFIED CITIZEN WILDFIRE ECOLOGY SPECIALIST

Steve Parker
Mark Gray
Lee Kothmann
James Hall
Zach Stark
Shane Kiefer
Eric Lee
Romey Swanson
Congratulations Team

WILDFIRES: PREPARATION AND RESTORATION

2011-09-23T06:40:00.000-05:00

Since last November, more than 3.6 million Texas acres have been burned by wildfires. The Texas Forest Service reports nearly 190 wildfires just since the early days of this September, with more than 1,700 homes destroyed. Central Texas witnessed the costliest fire in the state's history as the Bastrop fire, assisted by drought and high winds, charred 50 square miles, taking homes, pets, livestock, wildlife, and lives with it.

As the fires continued to rage, landowner client inquiries increased: How can wildfire destruction be prevented? How at risk is my property?

Plateau has always offered fire prevention services, but sometimes it takes a disaster hitting close to home to bring attention to an important area of land management. Our fire prevention-related services include:

Brush management
Debris clearing
Creating fire breaks, buffer zones, and access trails
Risk assessment

If you or someone you know was impacted by the fire, we also offer post-fire restoration services including:

Post-fire clean up
Cutting and shredding dead trees
Erosion control
Land restoration
Fence rebuilding

For more information on how we can help protect and restore your property, contact Plateau at (512) 894-3479.

For quick and easy actions you can take right now to reduce your risk of fire:

Cut the grass and weeds, rake leaves and pine needles around your house and structures and remove yard debris and branches
Relocate woodpiles and leftover building materials at least 30 feet from the house
Prune dead limbs to 6-8 feet from the ground around the house
Store all gas, oil, and other combustibles away from the house
Leave a minimum of 30 feet cleared space around the house to accommodate fire fighters and their equipment

And, finally, the most important thing to remember is to get out! If you've been ordered to evacuate, do not try to "stick it out." You're only risking your health, safety, and life, as well as the health, safety, and lives of others.

Tips courtesy Texas Forest Service. For more valuable information, visit the Texas Forest Service website at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu.

Want to help those battling the 2011 wildfires?
Those who want to help the departments battling the devastating 2011 wildfires are encouraged to donate directly to their local volunteer fire department.

Texas Forest Service has established the VFD Emergency Assistance Fund to help volunteer fire departments. Donations are tax deductible and can be earmarked for particular departments, counties or regions. All proceeds (100 percent) will be distributed to volunteer fire departments via grants for firefighting expenses.

Checks should be made payable to Texas Forest Service. If you'd like your donation to go to a specific department, region or county, please indicate that on the check.

Donations can be mailed to:
Texas Forest Service
John B. Connally Building
301 Tarrow, Ste. 421
College Station, Texas 77840-7896

If you have additional questions about how you can help, email HelpingTexas@tfs.tamu.edu.

Photo of a wildfire on property owned by a Plateau team member's family.

*****

DEER HARVEST STRATEGIES FOR A DROUGHT YEAR

2011-09-23T06:39:00.000-05:00

By Shane Kiefer, CWB®, Senior Wildlife Biologist

As opening day approaches and annual deer surveys begin, I am getting questions about harvest strategies for this coming deer season. The severity of this drought (and its apparent stubbornness about overstaying its welcome) may have you thinking that Mother Nature is doing enough damage to our deer herds so maybe we should go easy on them this year. While I have yet to gather enough information from surveys to say it with certainty, fawn crops in many places will be extremely low, but that doesn't mean that curtailing your harvest is a good idea.

It is natural to think that an extra conservative approach to harvest is warranted and that, perhaps, those harvest recommendations from your biologist should be relaxed a bit. However, it is times like this when following those harvest recommendations is more important than ever. This is particularly true if you are one of the many landowners still in the "population reduction" phase of your management plan.

Given the timing and severity of this drought, you likely have less available forage on your land this year than in any other in recent history, with very little chance of growing much more between now and the end of this growing season. Most properties I have seen, appear to have produced nearly zero new growth this year. No widespread deer die-offs have been reported, and given that the animals have not stopped eating in that time, it means you will enter spring 2012 with less available browse than you had 2 years ago. And unless you keep up with harvest recommendations, you will have a lot more deer than you can support. In short - it's a great time to shoot more deer.

If you are farther along in your management plan, with strong, healthy habitats and a goal of maintaining stable deer populations, then lower fawn recruitment numbers may mean that your harvest recommendations are a little lower than normal. It is still very important to meet those harvest goals to avoid a population increase and a loss of past gains in habitat quality. Those top-choice browse plants you have been growing are stressed by the drought, too, so you don't want extra mouths full of sharp incisors nipping on them all winter. In short - it's still a great time to shoot deer.

Healthy habitats produce healthy, quality deer, just like healthy grasslands produce healthy, quality cows. You wouldn't leave extra cows on the range if it couldn't support them, and you shouldn't leave extra deer on the range, either. When the rains return (and they will, eventually), properties that took the time to reduce their herds during the worst times will recover the fastest.

Yes, many places might lose a whole age class of deer this year, but deer are not in short supply across most of Texas. The herds will respond when the drought lifts, and if you take the time to focus on your long-term goals and follow those harvest recommendations from your annual surveys, you might just be ahead of the game when they do.

P.S. Pay extra attention to body condition of the deer you harvest this year. Lean deer with little fat may be the standard in many areas, but if you see body weights consistent with history on your property and good fat deposits on your deer in a year like this, then that is an excellent indicator that your population management is on the right track.

When the rains return (and they will, eventually), properties that took the time to reduce their herds during the worst times will recover the fastest.

*****

BACK IN BLACK: THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR RETURNS TO TEXAS

2011-09-23T06:38:00.000-05:00

By Romey Swanson, AWB®, Staff Biologist II

From the passive degradation of habitats to the relentless persecution of apex predators, man has done his utmost to completely tame this once fiercely rugged frontier - indeed, most of us would not recognize the Texas of 200 years ago. But nature is determined, and even as we lament the "progress" of man, the unwillingness of one species to abandon its rightful heritage gives us cause to celebrate.

Difficult to imagine, but in the early 1940s it was still possible (albeit unlikely) to see gray wolf, red wolf, jaguar, and black bear in Texas. Unfortunately, within a couple of decades, all of these species were extirpated. Due to ecological, political, and socio-economic reasons, it is highly unlikely that we will see wolves or North America's largest cat in Texas again anytime soon, perhaps ever. In a majority of cases, once a large carnivore is completely lost from an area, it is unlikely to return. However, the American black bear, Ursus americanus, has completely turned this model on its side by naturally reestablishing a portion of its former range, including the Edwards Plateau.

This medium-sized bear, black to brown in color, with rather long coarse fur, is considered shy and retiring. A typical adult black bear weighs between 200 and 400 pounds, with some reaching 500 pounds. Preferring woodland and forested habitats, they formerly roamed the majority of Texas in considerable abundance. Although deemed carnivores, black bears are more accuractely described as omnivores, showing considerable variation in their diets. Along with an affinity for honey, insects, nuts, acorns, berries, roots, and forbs, black bears will take fish, carrion, and camp garbage. Occasionally, a stressed or otherwise ornery individual may take young deer or small livestock - an infrequent behavior that was a contributing factor to the bear's eventual demise in Texas.

It is largely believed that Texas bears were entirely gone from the state by the 1950s. The last documented strongholds occurred in the Davis and Chisos Mountain ranges of far West Texas, and a rumor of bear sightings in the wild woodlands of eastern Matagorda County was never dismissed. As a cheap and readily available source of meat for ranch/plantation workers and hounds, as a trophy hunt for both size and number killed, and to prevent depredation of livestock (primarily hogs, sheep, and goats), these animals experienced unsustainable hunting pressure through the 19th and early part of the 20th century. Plateau's Beryl Armstrong shares the story of John Leakey founding a sawmill in Rio Frio in the late 1870s. Leakey hired a local hunter to provide meat for the workers until they could get a livestock operation established. During the course of a year, the hunter brought in 51 bears, after which bears were never again seen in abundance in the area. A 1945 report from the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission (precursor to Texas Parks and Wildlife) illustrates the yearly tradition of the Womble Family. From 1850-1860, Mr. Womble engaged in a yearly bear hunt in the Devil's Pocket area of southeastern Wharton County. Over a couple of days, Mr. Womble would hunt and kill enough bears to fill a wagon. Little to no control was exercised in the management of bears until it was virtually too late.

Thanks to historic folly in game and wildlife management, bears and many other imperiled species were offered protection only after they were completely lost from the state. It was not until 1973, effectively decades after their loss, that restrictions on bear hunting were put in place and, not until a decade later in 1983, was hunting bear completely prohibited. Finally, after reports of infrequent sightings and a five year investigation by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, black bear were placed on the state endangered species list, currently listed as threatened. The federally threatened Louisiana sub-species, formerly found in east Texas, offered additional federal protection by the Endangered Species Act. These protections make it illegal and punishable by jail and/or fine to kill, harm, or harass all bears in the state of Texas.

The black bear reoccupation of eastern Texas was confirmed during the late 1970s. Wildlife biologists originally met reports of bears from private landowners with skepticism, followed by cautious optimism, and finally excited revelation. Reports of reestablishment in west Texas began in the mid 1980s and, in 1988, photographic documentation of a sow with cubs near Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park provided the undeniable evidence. With these occurrences, black bear could again be counted present on the wildlife roll call of Texas. In the beginning, the majority of bear sightings on both sides of the state were likely of nomadic young males wondering in search of productive forage sites but, with the documented presence of females and young, support for a self-perpetuating west Texas population grew.

Black bear sightings within the western Edwards Plateau region are not new, but have been primarily confined to the area surrounding Del Rio. Relatively recently, many reports and verified observations have occurred north and east of the area. A black bear was recently killed near Mountain Home by a man who reported he felt threatened for himself and his dogs. This particular bear was a young 103-pound male that had been a welcome guest of some of the local landowners. Necropsy results show that its last meal consisted of prickly pear tuna (cactus fruit) and a feral hog. Another bear was killed this year in an auto collision near Comstock, and additional bear sightings have been confirmed recently near Menard, Leaky, and Kerrville. These sightings are more frequent during drought years as younger individuals search for steady food sources and territories. Meteorological conditions appear to serve as the fuel for migrations, whereas surplus animals, in an area of pre-established occupation, are the engine.

The natural reestablishment of black bears in central and west Texas is a two-fold success. With landowner initiative and government encouragement, black bears now thrive near Coahuila, Mexico, a montane area where they were once imperiled. The surplus bears from this favorable circumstance provided the source for reestablishment in west and central Texas. But Texas deserves credit, too. By rightfully offering protection to the species and innovating a landowner initiative meant to maximize sound land stewardship practices, Texans and their government have provided bears an opportunity to not only occupy but once again prosper throughout the state. Wildlife biologists have been tracking observations throughout the Edwards Plateau, collecting photographs (mostly from game cameras), estimating their numbers, and even tracking the movement of individuals. Many challenges remain, but biologists are optimistic about the possibility of an inter-breeding black bear population returning to Edwards Plateau and beyond.

The return of the black bear is exciting and encouraging - the type of event wildlife biologists live for! Plateau has digital reports/management plans that we can provide to landowners interested in learning more about the black bear. Also, Mike Kruegar of Texas Parks and Wildife is the main "bear guy" in the Hill Country and west Texas and can be reached at (830) 896-2500.

Black bear in west Texas. Photo by Romey Swanson, June 2011.

*****

"WHAT HAPPENS IF...": ESTATE PLANNING FOR LANDOWNERS

2011-09-22T14:12:00.001-05:00

Your land is one of the most valuable assets you own. Most landowners spend significant time and resources managing and protecting their land, including implementing Wildlife Management Planning to reduce their property tax burden. However, there are other legal steps for conscientious landowners to consider to further protect their property. This article presents some basic information about estate planning, especially for those who own rural land.

Here is the first issue every landowner should consider.

What happens if I become mentally disabled?

Paradoxically, with better health care many more people are encountering problems with mental disability, perhaps due to an accident, stoke, or dementia. If you become mentally disabled and cannot manage your affairs, how do you want to be cared for, and who is to make the many difficult decisions for you? Who will manage your property? What instructions can you give them to make their job easier and more successful is this stressful situation?

The horror stories in the news about the probate process or end-of-life decision-making usually involve people who did not plan their affairs. These people have an estate plan which can be called the "No Plan" estate plan.

If you do not take responsibility for yourself, your loved ones and your assets, then the State and Federal governments step in to answer these questions for you. If you do not plan your estate, the government has a ready-made, expensive, one-size-fits-all estate plan prepared for you which controls you and your property in the event you become mentally disabled. The government plan includes the federal and state laws and court cases regarding:

conservatorships and guardianships to appoint someone to care for you and your property if you become incapacitated,
statutes, case law and court proceedings governing end-of-life decision-making if you have not made your wishes known.

This "No Plan" estate plan is the most expensive plan for you and your loved ones, and usually produces the most disastrous results.

The Answers to This Question!
The good news is that it is relatively easy to implement a comprehensive estate plan to protect you and your property in the event of mental disability. To address the issue of planning for mental disability, your plan may include some of the following:

Durable Power of Attorney for Financial and Real Estate Matters, including the necessary Certificates and Affidavits;
Medical Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decision-Making;
Pre-Need Declaration of Guardian for you;
Designation of Guardian for minor children; and
Living Will, or Directive to Physician and Family.

If you have these types of documents, and have named a family member, friend or trusted advisor to act on your behalf in the event of mental disability, you will likely avoid costly legal wrangling. Certain assets, such as a ranch or farm, or a small business, may require special planning strategies, including added instructions to deal with special problems involved with owning and managing these assets in the event of your disability.

Seek Competent Help.
For the peace of mind that comprehensive estate planning can bring, seek competent help. Thomas Hall, Senior Attorney at our sister company, Braun & Gresham, PLLC, is an experienced estate planning attorney. He can discuss your specific concerns and goals. Visit their website at www.braungresham.com for more information, or call (512) 894-5426 to speak with Thomas personally about your vision for the future of your family and your land.

PLATEAU IS LISTENING! INTRODUCING NEW PLATEAU PRODUCTS

2011-09-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

Plateau is an always evolving company. We grew 50% in 2010, and again in 2011 we are growing at almost 50%. Our growth is thanks to our clients - we listen to our clients and respond with new and improved products and services. Some examples:

Our new Total Quail and Small Animal System is a direct result of our clients seeking to enhance their property for quail or to introduce quail. The system includes a 50 gallon drum for food, 55 gallon drum for water, and shelter that also serves as a rainwater collection device. The Total Quail and Small Animal System also prevents non-target animals (feral hogs, raccoons, and skunks) from using the system. Our early installations are giving us terrific quail usage results. We are also offering the Quail Feeder, a 50 gallon drum, as a separate product for those who prefer to do it themselves.

Plateau's rainwater collection devices for wildlife have always been both successful and effective, but clients asked for an even bigger brother for our 55 Gallon Water Table and 305 Gallon Water Table. We have listened and are in the final stages of delivering the 550 Gallon Water Table which offers 2x the collection area as our previous versions.

As we all know, wildfires have caused tremendous damage across Texas, affecting friends, families, and neighbors. Plateau is currently working with the Texas Forest Service to finalize our Wildfire Risk Assessment Certification training. This assessment is designed to review your property, identify the areas and potential hazards, and create the action items to be completed to make you, your home, and your property safer. Some of these activities, such as brush control and creating water features, will also improve your habitat for wildlife,.

Plateau is always researching better ways to help our clients improve, profit, and enjoy their property. Contact us today fore more information on any of our product, or if you have a suggestion on how we can improve our services!

GROWING A NATURE LOVER

2011-09-22T13:51:00.002-05:00

By Stacy Marcus, Sales and Marketing Assistant

Plateau is in the business of helping landowners protect their greatest asset, their land. The ultimate goal for many landowners we work with is to become a better steward of the land, a "title" that can be passed to the next generation of responsible land stewards by simply sharing your love of nature now. For the children in your life, you hold the key to unlocking the beauty and wonder of all things wild. Over the past several years, we have heard about the increase in childhood obesity, depression and ADHD.There seems to be a strong and direct correlation between these conditions and the lack of nature in the lives of children today. In his book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv gives a label to this very condition, Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Think back to your childhood memories, how did you spend your free time? Did you collect fireflies in a glass jar and watch them in your dark room while drifting to sleep? Maybe you had a favorite climbing tree where you watched storms blow in. Or were you the collector? I bet your mom learned early on she needed to check each and every pocket for your precious, sometimes perishable souvenirs before sending them through the laundry. Now, think about that special child in your life. How do they spend their free time? The common answer usually involves one or another screened device. Our busy lives have called us away from our family dinners; instead we watch TV or read emails. Surely, you've seen families eating out in restaurants where each member is either on their phone or gaming device.Think back to road trips. This is where I first learned to read a map as I watched mile markers and road signs pass. Now, most families just turn on a movie.

You might be asking yourself, "How do I change this?" Start with what you know and love. Invite that special little person to join you on your next adventure. Whether it's fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, bird watching or kayaking, bring them along. Chances are they will be excited just to be able to spend this time together with you. Occasions like this can forever change and enhance their quality of life. Knowledge is power, and by providing these opportunities for children to learn how to engage with nature, you allow them to know it intimately. Author Louv writes: "To know the name of something is to know it personally." Studies also show that children who are able to connect with nature cope more favorably with stressful events in their lives. This is also true for adults, even an afternoon walk around the office helps clear the mind (3pm seems to be the preferred walking time here at Plateau).

While connecting with nature doesn't have to be planned (sometimes the best experiences are spontaneous), having the basic tools at the ready certainly enriches the experience. Find an unused backpack or bag and begin making your field pack. Depending on the age of the child you'll need: sun block, water, journal or notebook with pencil, binoculars (they have children's versions too), empty containers to collect specimens, tweezers, magnifying glass, field guides, butterfly net and camera. Now go outside and explore! You never know what mysteries are just waiting to be discovered. Still feel stumped? Open the door and let your child lead the way.

Additional resources can also be found online. Texas Parks and Wildlife at www.tpwd.state.tx.us has a wonderfully informative site including a section devoted especially to kids. Another suggested site is the Children's Nature Network at www.childrenandnature.org.

For the children in your life, you hold the key to unlocking the beauty and wonder of all things wild.

*****

ODE TO THE CORAL SNAKE

2011-09-22T13:45:00.001-05:00

By Mark Gray, Senior Wildlife Biologist

If you live in the Texas Hill Country chances are you've been warned about venomous snakes. The Texas coral snake, one of the most striking in appearance, is also one most likely to cause confusion thanks to its brilliant bands of red, yellow, and black. Its non-venomous cousin, the milksnake, also sports the same brilliant bands of color, but in a different pattern. While some of us rely on information gleaned in herpetological textbooks, many of us quickly call to mind catchy rhymes: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack" or "red into black, venom lack; red into yellow, kill a fellow." The sayings describe the alternating bands of color found along the entirety of the snake, where the red and yellow bands are touching in coral snakes. This color pattern is mimicked by the non-venomous milksnake, which have red and yellow bands that are separated by black bands. These rhymes only hold true for coral snakes that are found throughout North America.

Although legendary for their deadly venom, coral snake bites are actually extremely rare, mainly due to their docile nature. Coral snakes are typically fossorial, meaning they spend the majority of the time buried in the ground, within leaf-litter, or in dark hiding space like a log or unused flower pot. They are active throughout the day looking for a variety of food items including frogs, lizards, small snakes, small mammals, and even nestlings. Coral snakes are unique amongst the vipers by having rear-facing, non-retractable fangs. A coral snake tends to chew its prey to help release the neurotoxic venom. This is much different to the fast striking rattlesnakes who deliver copious amounts of venom in a lightening fast strikes. Many coral snake bites are also "dry," and venom is not released.

Coral snake bites typically comprise just 1 percent of the venomous snake bites reported in the United States, but, if you are bitten, it is vital to seek immediate medical attention - don't wait for a reaction as delayed responses are common in coral snake bites. Coral snake venom is comprised of a powerful neurotoxin that paralyzes the breathing muscles. Mechanical or artificial respiration, along with large doses of anti-venom, are often required to save a victim's life. There is usually only mild pain associated with a bite, but respiratory failure can occur within hours.

Coral snakes are a unique and fascinating part of our ecosytem, and should not be feared, but respected and considered with knowledge...and, perhaps, rhymes.

Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack.

*****

WILD NEWS!

2011-09-22T13:36:00.001-05:00

A round-up of interesting wildlife-related news:

Daddy longtime legs
"Daddy longlegs have been skittering around the Earth for more than 300 million years, as confirmed by the discovery and imaging of two species that lived in the forests of what is now France before the time of the dinosaurs." (via MSNBC)

Little fish getting big help
Wildlife biologists have begun capturing thousands of minnows from Texas rivers parched by the state's worst drought in decades. Scientists in Fort Worth have collected about 3,100 smalleye and sharpnose shiners from the Brazos River. Such large fish rescues are rare, but they could become more common if the drought persists as meteorologists predict. Approximately 86 species in Texas are considered endangered or threatened. (via LA Times)

Weevils gobble the bad plants down
Weevils are being tested as a big-time, environmentally friendly solution to controlling invasive Eurasian water milfoil plants that have clogged some Wisconsin waterways. Scientists are eagerly anticipating the results of using the bug, approximately the size of a sesame seed. Plant life will be monitored routinely during the next three years to determine whether the weevils are successfully reducing the acres of milfoil plants in the water. (via Houston Chronicle)

A black bear that's white
Neither albino nor polar bear, the "spirit bear" is a white variant of the North American black bear, and it's found almost exclusively in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest. It is something of a best-kept secret among Canadian First Nations and American Indians of the area, and perhaps that's why there are still an estimated 1,000 in existence. (via NPR)

*****

ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: DEER SURVEY

2011-09-22T13:27:00.002-05:00

By Kameron Bain, Business Development

One of my favorite memories of growing up in New Hampshire was the anticipation of an unexpected wildlife sighting - a deer, a fox, a moose - as we explored our property or drove the scenic roads. There is something about seeing an animal in its natural environment that makes the experience a little more thrilling. That thrill has not worn off as I have grown older, hence my excitement when I finally got the opportunity to go on a Plateau Spotlight Deer Survey, an important tool (and qualifiying wildlife management activity) for landowners managing their property for white-tailed deer to determine population and generate useful harvest levels to prepare for the hunting season.

The night of my survey was amazing. Full moon, clear skies, comfortably warm and some serious girl power. All of my previous adventures have been male dominated, but on this night it was all about a team of women not afraid to be leaders in the field, and get a little dirty while doing it. Our biologist and navigator/identifier, Romey, was the odd man out. Riding in the back of the truck, Sarah and I held the spotlights while Kyndal manned (womanned) the binoculars, identifying and, well, saving me from headaches (but more on that later).

As we rolled up to the property's gate, nerves started to kick in as it was time for the most intimidating part of all my adventures, the rundown of my job duties for the night. This is when reality hits me that I am stepping into the unfamiliar role of a wildlife management services technician and I do not want to let my team down. I have learned throughout my past adventures that our technicians are very dedicated and precise individuals; knowing that part of the success of this survey depends on me makes the spotlight shake a little. Thankfully, my job seemed pretty easy with two clear goals to focus on: find the deer and not blind anyone with my spotlight.

Nerves quickly dissipated when the survey began. The truck engine started, I turned on the spotlight, grabbed the side of the truck, and within moments we saw about 7 deer. It was a sign of good things to come. As we traversed the dusty trail, it felt like a Hill Country Safari. Not only were we counting many deer, but other Hill Country all stars including a skunk, a few rabbits, several armadillos, a porcupine, some raccoons and a possum made an appearance. One of the highlights of the evening came thanks to the keen spotting skills of Sarah, who spied a coyote. We took a few minutes to watch him in the moonlight, and I could not help but think how much I loved my job.

As in every adventure, there are awards and challenges. I thought holding a spotlight while standing on the back of a truck would be the tough part, but I was unaware of another challenge ahead - tree branches. I generally consider myself the master of multi-tasking, but I was so focused on finding deer that everything else was difficult, especially when it came to watching out for my own head. There were a few close calls. One of them was so close that Kyndal had to grab my head and push me down. When I looked behind me I saw a large branch that probably would have given me a headache supreme. Thank you, Kyndal!

With my team watching my back - or my head in this case - I continued searching for deer. Finding them was easier then I had imagined with the spotlight. All you had to do was find a set of bright eyes. And it was exciting each time. I left that evening feeling fulfilled. That old thrill of my childhood was back. Thank you to Romey, Sarah and Kyndal for letting me tag along. It was a great adventure and I cannot wait for the next!

Deer survey girl power!

*****

DIVERSIFY LAND POTENTIAL WITH AN OUTDOOR LEASE

2011-09-22T13:25:00.001-05:00

By Craig Bowen, Account Manager - Hill Country North

For the average landowner, there are few aspects of land more attractive than the potential to produce revenue. Often, all that is lacking from such a landowner's revenue-generating plan is the willingness to diversify, or the lack of knowledge about the great number of options their land gives them.

For the Texas landowner, there are a number of opportunities to diversify and generate revenue by selling leases on their property. These leases vary in type, duration, and focus, and can fit a variety of landowner goals and property characteristics. The three main types of outdoor leases are hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. The market for the latter is growing quickly, and there are many emphases within this type.

Hunting leases are typically sold for white-tailed deer, mule deer, dove, turkey, quail, feral hogs, and exotic deer and antelope. Fishing leases are usually specific to properties boasting large, private lakes (5+ acre is a good rule of thumb) which are managed for trophy bass, crappie, or catfish.

Nature tourism includes bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, guided nature tours, star gazing, geological recreation, and geotourism. Geological recreation involves rock and topographic formation viewing and rock hunting; geotourism is basically an introduction to active rural life on a working farm or ranch.

The type of lease is defined by the duration. Day, packages, season, and annual leases are all common and all fill important niches in outdoor leases. The type of lease may be dependent on the lease focus, the lessee's desires, the landowner's desires, or the type of property being leased. Each of these leases has pros and cons, and most revolve around the amount of revenue and profit potential they have versus the amount of landowner involvement and sacrifice. For instance, day leases have a high revenue potential because of the high sale volume possible, but the landowner sacrifices privacy and liability risk by having different clients on site each day.

As in any good business plan, market research is one of the most important preliminary steps to success. In outdoor recreation, the simple words "Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How" can be used to conduct the proper market research. Examples of appropriate questions to answer about your business plan: WHO is the target audience; WHAT are the marketable traits of your land; WHEN is your product available; WHERE can your target audience be reached; WHY is there value in your lease; and HOW can existing industry marketing strategies be improved? There are many, many more considerations for a successful marketing plan, but these will get the process started efficiently.

Perhaps the most important, and often the most overlooked, tool for a successful lease is a well-written lease agreement. The agreement should be drafted by a competent attorney familiar with the outdoor lease industry. The agreement will vary among lease foci, but should outline items such as property access periods, with start and end dates and camp set-up periods; allowed activities, such as wildlife hunting availability, type of hunting, and souvenir regulations; equipment allowed, including weapons, cameras, trailers, and vehicles; guest restriction, including how many, how often, and what age; vehicle rules, covering where they can go on a lease, and what type is allowed; camp safety restrictions, such as camp location, and alcohol and smoking restrictions; transferability of lease; landowner rights during lease period; required record keeping, such as harvest logs and photographs; and dispute resolution process.

Today's landowner has many options to produce revenue on their property in formerly "unconventional" ways, and the ability to offer these affordable, family-friendly leases is also a great way to involve the community in rural life.

This article paraphrases a more in-depth essay by Mr. Robert Fears, "Diversify with an Outdoor Recreation Business," which appeared in the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) magazine The Cattleman in August, 2011. Fears' article was mostly a written version of Craig Bowen's presentation to TSCRA at their 2010 convention in Fort Worth, Texas. Download The Cattleman article here (PDF).

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TIMING IS EVERYTHING: FALL AND WILDLIFE

2011-09-22T13:22:00.002-05:00

In some parts of Texas, nearly half of the bird species are found only during cooler months, which is why we offer the Wintering and Resident Bird Survey starting around mid-November. Designed to complement our Spring Breeding Bird Census (BBC), the winter survey provides valuable information on bird population dynamics. This is a great opportunity to learn which birds are utilizing your property during the winter months. Additionally, you can use the information to identify important wintering habitats, track population trends, and create management plans for year-round use. And, like our spring survey, the Wintering and Resident Bird Survey is a qualifying activity for your wildlife valuation. As always, our surveys are conducted by an experienced birder and, of course, the landowner is invited to come along. It is also a unique opportunity to show off your property and native wildlife -- a fun, informative, and activity-qualifying tour of your property before the football game. If you have not already done so, contact Plateau today to schedule your survey.

Fall is also prime time for the following activities:

Conducting brush management before wintering birds arrive.
A consulting site visit by a Plateau biologist to ensure wildlife management activities are on track for the year. Fellow landowners have had our biologists tour their property with family and friends so everyone can learn more about their land, from its unique plants to unexpected wildlife habitats. A fun fall family activity!
Prickly pear chemical control is still underway.
Deer surveys, including spotlight and camera surveys.
Installation of turkey feeders and wildlife rainwater collection systems.

In the summer issue of Seasons, we suggested that you pull out your wildlife management plan and assess your progress. If simply surviving the drought and wildfires took summer precedence, definitely take a moment now 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. How many of your wildlife management activities have you completed 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, such as the ones listed above, are season specific.

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

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INTERNATIONAL VULTURE AWARENESS DAY

2011-09-22T13:13:00.001-05:00

International Vulture Awareness Day was September 3rd. Did you celebrate?

While few of us feel the same thrill as spotting a brilliant Baltimore Oriole or a sleek Cedar Waxwing, the vulture would be sorely missed should it one day disappear. When the vulture population began declining dramatically in South Asia in the 1990s, an emergency situation emerged as decaying, uneaten animal carcasses created overpowering stench and disease, and attracted packs of rabid dogs. It was ultimately determined the vulture die-off was due to a common painkiller given to sick cattle. If a vulture ate a treated animal that had died, a single meal was enough to be the bird's last meal. Although the Indian government has now banned the drug for use in in animals (the drug is also used for humans), it may be many, many years before the vultures return to their earlier populations.

Here in Texas, this ecologically vital group of birds has proved itself even more so during the drought, as deer and other wildlife wander fatally closer to roads in search of food. With its corrosive stomach acid, allowing the vulture to safely digest sick animals, and its method of urinating straight down the leg, releasing a uric acid that kills the bacteria acquired from walking through dead animals, the vulture is an amazing, environmentally sound garbage disposal.

Although the reason for many a turned head as they're seen enthusiastically gorging on a roadside carcass, we should all be giving the vulture a nod of thanks.

A Black Vulture awaits the call of its ecologically vital, but often under-appreciated, purpose.

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BIRDWATCHING CLASS AT CAMP LASSO

2011-08-02T14:41:00.001-05:00

Plateau's Stacy Marcus took time today to visit with the kids at Camp Lasso, the City of Dripping Spring's summer day camp. She spoke to the rapt group about birds and birdwatching. Stacy reports that the kids were full of questions and stories, and she was extremely impressed with their knowledge base for native birds -- they could already identify cardinals, quail and vultures. Camp Lasso is held at Harrison Ranch Park in Dripping Springs which has, at its heart, a great old ranch house where the Stacy held court with the kids.

Plateau's Stacy Marcus teaches the Camp Lasso kids about birds and birdwatching.

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.

BACK IN BLACK BEARS

2011-07-12T15:15:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, the Odessa American published a story about dry conditions forcing black bears to go on the move, but they’re actually coming to Texas instead of leaving the drought-ridden state. According to the article, the bears are fleeing dry conditions and fires in Mexico, searching for food and water. Plateau wildlife biologist Romey Swanson just returned from a family vacation to West Texas and we'll be posting amazing wildlife photos from his excellent adventure, but, first up, it's a bear! Romey's photo, below. Read the complete Odessa American article here.

Black bear in West Texas. Photo by Romey Swanson, June 2011.

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

2011-06-23T14:44:00.005-05:00

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

2011-06-21T13:16:00.002-05:00

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.

ECOLAB Q&A WITH STUART KENSINGER

2011-06-21T12:58:00.002-05:00

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

2011-06-21T12:34:00.004-05:00

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

2011-06-21T12:29:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-21T12:22:00.002-05:00

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

2011-06-21T12:12:00.001-05:00

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

2011-06-21T12:08:00.002-05:00

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

2011-06-07T11:51:00.006-05:00

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

2011-06-01T17:51:00.000-05:00

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.

CONGRATULATIONS SHANE KIEFER, CERTIFIED WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST!

2011-05-31T14:15:00.002-05:00

Shane Kiefer, Certified Wildlife Biologist

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management is proud to announce Senior Wildlife Biologist Shane Kiefer is now a Certified Wildlife Biologist! The certification is by The Wildlife Society, which is committed to the sound stewardship of wildlife resources under the guidance of well-educated, experienced, and dedicated wildlife biologists. To further this aim, The Wildlife Society has established standards for certifying the credentials of qualified wildlife biologists.

An applicant for professional certification who demonstrates this expertise through education and experience, and is judged to be able to represent the profession as an ethical practitioner will be designated as a Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB).

Once approved as a CWB, the individual must stay abreast of new knowledge and practices through a self-directed, continuing education program, and apply for certification renewal every five years.

Learn more about The Wildlife Society Certification Program.

GO FREE FISHING ON JUNE 4TH!

2011-05-31T10:27:00.001-05:00

Texas is one of the best places in the nation for fishing and on June 4, you can wet a line anywhere in the state for free.

As part of Celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week, on Saturday, June 4, local residents and visitors alike will be able to fish anywhere in Texas without a license. However, normal regulations concerning catch size and quantity still apply.

The annual national event is coordinated by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and coincides with the TakeMeFishing nonprofit organization’s free fishing days throughout the country.

To celebrate this year’s festivities TakeMeFishing will be hosting a week-long Facebook contest for “Memories on the Water” video submissions beginning June 2. The video submission with the most “likes” at the end of the week wins.

And the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Go Fish! summer event series is in full swing. Free fishing lessons for the young and young at heart will be hosted around the state at selected state parks this summer. Get details and complete schedule here.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BRAUN & GRESHAM

2011-05-24T11:07:00.002-05:00

Braun & Associates is now Braun & Gresham, PLLC. Cassie Gresham, left. David Braun, also co-founder of Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, right.

Congratulations to our friends at Braun & Associates. Cassie Gresham is now a partner and the firm is now Braun & Gresham, PLLC.

Says David Braun, also co-founder of Plateau Land & Wildlife Management: “I started Braun & Associates in 2000 to provide legal counsel and practical advice for owners of rural property nationwide. Today, I could not be more proud to share the firm name with Cassie Gresham, a lawyer who has proved herself absolutely dedicated to serving the needs and protecting the rights of landowners.”

Cassie, who joined Braun & Associates in 2004, played a key role in bringing about last year’s historic Dahlstrom Ranch conservation easement in Hays County, a rare collaboration between a private landowner, a county, a federal agency, and a city to protect drinking water and provide public open space. She oversees the firm’s unique Ecological Laboratory program which arranges partnerships between rural landowners and research universities. Cassie also leads the firm’s lobbying practice where she has worked on significant legislation for clients and on three successful bond-election campaigns which raised more than $100 million for central Texas open space, parks and water quality. Along with other members of the Braun & Gresham litigation team, Cassie is actively representing landowners across Texas threatened by proposed CREZ transmission lines.

Prior to joining Braun & Associates, Cassie served on the staff of Texas Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff. She is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, where she served as Co-Editor-in-Chief for the State Bar of Texas Environmental Law Journal. She was also a Truman Scholar during her undergraduate career at the University of Mississippi.

Notes Cassie: “While our firm grows, our practice remains focused. The legal needs and rights of the rural property owner, whether rancher, farmer, non-profit, business, or individual client, will always be our top priority.”

About Braun & Gresham, PLLC
Braun & Gresham, PLLC is an innovative law firm providing a wide-range of expertise and legal service for owners of rural property including estate planning, purchase and sale of ranch or farmland, fighting property taxes, resolving neighbor disputes, protecting land in condemnation, and negotiating conservation easements. With a rapidly growing roster of condemnation and landowner rights cases, the firm has recently expanded its litigation group to three full-time attorneys. The firm is based on the outskirts of Austin near Dripping Springs, Texas, with an expanding office in San Antonio. For more information, visit www.braungresham.com.

COWBIRD TRAPPING UPDATE

2011-05-09T09:57:00.005-05:00

Plateau Land & Wildlife cowbird trap.

There was a time when the Brown-headed Cowbird migrated with bison across the Great Plains. As birds on the road, cowbirds would lay their eggs in nests of other birds and then move on with the bison. After a cowbird lays its eggs in a host nest, the host bird returns to unwittingly raise the cowbird's young as its own. As typically larger eggs that hatch earlier than the host eggs, the cowbird hatchlings loudly vocalize their hunger, beg for food, and ultimately kick out the host bird's offspring. Back when cowbirds migrated with bison, the impact on a host species was not as great. Many songbirds when parasitized by a cowbird will simply build a new nest. If cowbirds were moving on down the road this would work, but, today, cowbirds hang with cows in fenced pastures. The cows don't migrate and neither do the cowbirds, which leave them to concentrate on one area and potentially decimate a species of host birds. If a songbird builds a new nest, the cowbirds are still around to parasitize that one as well. In fact, cowbirds are known to parasitize over 225 species of birds. Moreover, on average, female cowbirds lay an astonishing 40 eggs per year in other birds' nests.

While many argue the cowbird as misunderstood, the fact of the matter is that humans created this situation and, if we want to protect our songbirds, humans will have to take action.

Because Plateau believes the Brown-headed Cowbird poses a potentially dire situation for our native songbirds, we offer cowbird trapping and trap monitoring services. We have been trained and certified by Texas Parks & Wildlife to humanely dispatch the cowbirds and safely release non-target birds. The key time to implement remains until the end of this month when the songbirds are nesting. Plateau wraps up cowbird trapping in June as breeding season slows and the risk of trapping non-target birds (mainly juveniles) goes up. In addition to helping promote songbirds, cowbird trapping qualifies as an activity for Wildlife Management Tax Valuation purposes. According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, for each female cowbird caught, an additional 3.5 songbirds survive. By way of example, last year on one of our client properties a total of 49 male and 89 female cowbirds were caught and dispatched. Using the TPWD figure, the trapping that Plateau performed on that property resulted in 312 additional songbirds in western Travis County. Last week, a Plateau technician snapped the photo, above, while monitoring a cowbird trap on a client property. For more information on our cowbird trap sales and cowbird trap monitoring services, contact Plateau at (512) 894-3479 or toll free at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com.

A DIFFERENT SORT OF EGG HUNT

2011-04-22T09:51:00.000-05:00

A Plateau team member came up on this turkey egg nest on a client's property near Seward Junction. A turkey hen lays about 10 or 11 eggs (known as a clutch), and it takes her about two weeks to lay them. The incubation period is 28-days. Turkey breeding season is always a time to take particular care on tractors and in brush management. Future native Texas birds are not only waiting to be born up in the trees, they're also down on the ground.

THE GALL OF IT ALL

2011-04-18T13:02:00.002-05:00

Following up on our March post about wasps and tree galls, Plateau biologist Shane Kiefer recently happened upon of the heaviest wasp gall infestations he has ever seen. The galls, seen in the photo below, were on a white shin oak stand in Kerr/Kimble County west of Harper.

According to Agrilife Extension most gall forming insects are not harmful to the host tree (with the exception of possibly reducing yield when a heavy infestation is present in some crop trees such as pecans). Most gall forming insects prefer a particular type or species of host plant, so the insects that formed these oak galls would not be likely to infect other tree species in the area.

Once the galls form, pesticides will not work so in order to prevent them, you would have to treat when the adults are laying eggs. Because they are not considered harmful to the tree, this is not recommended. In addition, use of pesticides might also kill insects that prey on the gall forming insects and their larvae, thus reducing natural biological controls on them.

For more on galls, visit the TPWD website.

Wasp gall infestation.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CAMP REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAY 1

2011-04-14T12:57:00.004-05:00

The Wildlife Conservation Camp on Welder Wildlife Refuge near Sinton, Texas, will be held July 17-23, 2011. Registration deadline is May 1. The camp is sponsored by the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society and is open to high school students who have completed the 9th grade or higher. The camp focuses on exciting hands-on activities with presentations led by Texas Chapter members and wildlife professionals from across Texas. Campers study wildlife and plant identification, hunting as a management tool, species diversity, conservation ethics, wildlife capture and survey techniques, wildlife tracking, predator-prey dynamics, white-tailed deer management, fishing, hunter safety, shooting skills and much more. Campers especially enjoy the opportunity to interact with wildlife professionals and college students majoring in a variety of wildlife and conservation fields. Students considering careers in the natural sciences are strongly encouraged to attend!

To learn more about the Texas Chapter and the Wildlife Conservation Camp, or to download an application, visit the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s website by clicking here.

WHY DID THE TEXAS TORTOISE CROSS THE ROAD?

2011-03-30T17:02:00.002-05:00

Why did the tortoise cross the road?

We didn't ask, but biologist Shane Kiefer did snap this photo of a Texas tortoise crossing a ranch road on a client's property in Zavala County. Thanks to a low reproductive rate, historic heavy exploitation by pet suppliers, and other factors, these docile creatures have been on the state "threatened" list since 1977, protecting them from from being taken, possessed, transported, exported, sold, or offered for sale. Primarily vegetarian, the Texas tortoise feed heavily on the fruit of the common prickly pear and on other mostly succulent plants available to them. Although the life span is unknown, it is thought by some that breeding age is attained in about 15 years and that longevity may be as great as 60 years. Related fossil forms in this genus have been found in the Pliocene in Central Texas. The Pliocene is considered as dating back to 10 million years B.C. (Texas tortoise information via Texas Parks & Wildlife).

Camera shy!

BAKER SANCTUARY OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 9, 2011

2011-03-30T10:21:00.000-05:00

Located just northwest of Austin, Baker Sanctuary (12308 Lime Creek Rd., Leander) is a 690 acre tract of virtually untouched natural habitat. Baker Sanctuary is especially unique in that it remains one of the only places in the entire world where the Golden-cheeked Warbler nests and breeds. Only 27 counties in Texas are known to support the Golden-cheeked Warbler. This endangered songbird relies on the specific conditions found in Baker Sanctuary to survive in a world where rapid urbanization poses an ever- increasing threat to their habitat.

Normally closed to the public, Baker Sanctuary will hold an open house on April 9, 2011. Guided tours will take place from 9am to noon. The educational tours will focus on Golden-cheeked Warblers, butterflies, plants, insects and the supporting habitat. Children’s activities include making bird feeders, games, learning to use binoculars and other delights. Please contact Travis Audubon Society with any questions at (512) 300-BIRD or visit travisaudubon.org and follow the Sanctuaries link to Baker Sanctuary and then click on Events. Admission is free!

FISH MANAGEMENT: A PRIMER

2011-03-23T15:19:00.000-05:00

by Craig Bowen, Business Development Coordinator, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

Henry David Thoreau was a wise man, and the "wise" fishermen among us recognize that as fishing season approaches, their wildlife water features (colloquially known as ponds, lakes, and tanks) may need some attention. At Plateau, we believe holistic ecosystem management is the best approach for managing land and wildlife, and that philosophy also applies to managing your wildlife water feature. To paraphrase Mr. Thoreau, many landowners build ponds, lakes, and tanks without knowing that they are not properly managing for fish.

To wisely manage your wildlife water feature for fish, these three areas must be monitored: habitat, water quality, and population health.

Habitat
Unless artificial habitat was included in the construction of your pond, most of the structure fish use for protection probably comes from natural aquatic vegetation. Aquatic vegetation presents a unique quandary -- some vegetation is required for a successful ecosystem, but certain types of vegetation can making fishing difficult. There are four basic types of aquatic vegetation: algae, submerged plants, emergent plants, and floating plants. Each type presents species which are highly beneficial to wildlife by providing food and shelter, and all must be managed carefully to maintain a healthy balance between "fishability" and good habitat.

Some of the common native aquatic species in Texas ponds are sago pondweed, southern naiad widgoengrass, and coontail. These are all easily identifiable and beneficial plants in moderation, but can all be invasive under certain conditions. Aquatic vegetation may be managed through the use of chemical (herbicide), biological (triploid grass carp), or mechanical (rakes, seins, etc) methods. Each species responds differently to each method, so be sure to understand your goal and your vegetation before implementing an aquatic vegetation management regime.

Water quality
Water quality in fisheries management is often a discussion of water clarity. Water clarity is affected mainly by microbial plant growth called algae, a type of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is a large group of microscopic plants which compose the base of the aquatic food chain. Like most plant life, algae are photosynthetic, and the chlorophyll in the plant cells is green. High levels of algae during certain times of year, referred to as "algae blooms," give clear water a green hue. Very clear lakes generally have low levels of phytoplankton, and oftentimes exhibit poor success of all predatory fish such as bluegill and bass because of the lack of a food chain base. If this is the case in your pond, it may be time to visit with a consultant like Plateau about fertilizing your pond, which is a great way to create algae blooms.

Turbidity, which is a measure of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in the water, also affects water clarity in some cases. High levels of TSS result in "brown" or "dingy" water, and prevent sunlight infiltration, which inhibits valuable plant growth. The measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution is called "pH." Varying pH levels may affect turbidity, and there are simple and economical remedies to pH problems.

There needs to be some attention given to the chemical composition of your pond water, particularly nitrate, phosphate, and silicic acid levels. Because most rainwater is chemically balanced naturally, and also thoroughly filtered through grass and other vegetation before reaching the pond, most ponds test in the "acceptable" range of actual water quality due to the high levels of rainwater which make up the pond water. Nevertheless, conducting water quality tests every 5 years is advisable.

Population health
Population health is the easiest and most fun part of fisheries management. If a lot of small bass (1 pound or less) are caught from a pond, remove most of this size fish you catch for one year. If the bass look "skinny," remove about 30 pounds of fish for every surface acre of water in one year and test the results. If only large fish are caught (greater than 3 pounds), remove up to 50% of this size fish you catch for one year. Keep in mind most private ponds can only sustain one trophy fish (greater than 5 pounds) per acre, so realistic expectations regarding bass size are important in private fisheries management.

Whether you are managing a world class bass fishery, or simply want your grandchildren to have a place to have some summer fun, there are multiple management considerations. With these concepts in mind, your wildlife water feature will be more productive, more beautiful, and more enjoyable for generations to come.

To wisely manage your wildlife water feature for fish, these three areas must be monitored: habitat, water quality, and population health. Photo by Lee Kothmann.

CREZ AND THE TEXAS LANDOWNER: A Q&A

2011-03-23T15:14:00.000-05:00

In the next two years, Texas landowners may be required to house massive transmission lines on their land. Plateau's Ken Thigpen spoke with Taline Manassian, an attorney with Braun & Associates, about these lines and their impact on landowners.

Taline, what is happening with transmission lines in Texas right now?

Probably the most significant thing is the routing and construction of CREZ lines. CREZ stands for "Competitive Renewable Energy Zones." A CREZ is an area in West Texas or the Panhandle identified for the construction of wind energy facilities. CREZ lines are the transmission lines that will carry the renewable energy from CREZ facilities to the population centers of the state. The Public Utility Commission has been working with utility companies and landowners to decide where these lines should go.

What do CREZ lines mean for Texas landowners?

After the Commission decides where a line will be routed, the utility begins condemning land along the chosen path. Condemnation is the formal process by which the utility can take an easement on property owned by private landowners for the purpose of building and maintaining a CREZ line.

How does condemnation work?

The utility will ask for the landowner's permission to conduct a survey of the affected land. Within a few months of the survey, the landowner will receive an offer from the utility to purchase an easement at some price. The landowner then can negotiate the price and other issues.

What other issues might a landowner negotiate?

That depends on the property. The landowner can negotiate the routing of the line on his or her property or the location of the towers. If a property has a spectacular view, the landowner may want the utility to route the line so that the view is unaffected or less affected. A landowner also may negotiate access points, gates and locks, or roads that may be needed for the line. Some landowners want restoration, such as replanting of grasses or trees. In the negotiation phase, anything is possible.

Is the language of the easement document negotiable?

Absolutely. Certain points should be negotiated. Perhaps the most important is the scope of the permissions granted. The easement should be narrow in the rights it gives the utility. The utility's initial draft might authorize it to build the proposed CREZ line and future lines, including pipelines, telecommunication lines or other structures. It is important for the landowner that the easement authorize only the construction of the line that the utility is authorized to build. If a pipeline or something else is authorized in the future, the landowner should be paid a second time for a second easement.

What if the landowner and the utility do not agree on the language, the price or other points?

If they are not able to agree on a negotiated sale of the easement, the utility can start formal condemnation proceedings in Commissioner's Court. The utility and the landowner then present evidence on what they think the land is worth, and a three-person panel decides how much the landowner should be paid for the easement. If either party is unhappy with the panel's decision, it can appeal the decision to district court.

Though court is available, often it is better for the landowner to negotiate a resolution. Court can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Also, once the utility files a formal proceeding, the utility is largely unmotivated to discuss anything but price. During the negotiation phase, the utility often is willing to discuss routing, access points, location of structures, restoration or other things that benefit the landowner. In the formal proceeding, that motivation is gone, and those issues tend to be off the table. Also, the utility can start construction even while an appeal of the Commissioner's Court decision is pending.

What suggestions do you have for a landowner facing condemnation?

Create a wish list of what the utility could do to lessen the burden of the line. Consider hiring a lawyer to help negotiate, particularly the easement language. The easement affects a landowner's ability to sell and binds future owners, so it is important that the landowner understand exactly what the document does. Also, share the costs of these proceedings with neighbors. It can be expensive to hire an appraiser or a lawyer, but if landowners share costs, the costs become more manageable.

Once a landowner learns his property is to be condemned, is there anything the landowner can do to avoid condemnation?

Probably not. The way to avoid condemnation is to participate in the Public Utility Commission proceeding that decides where the line goes. If a landowner does not participate and receives a condemnation notice, what remains is to negotiate an arrangement that will minimize the impact of the line. It becomes about protecting the landowner and the land to the greatest extent possible.

Learn more about condemnation on the Braun & Associates website.

CREZ lines are the transmission lines that will carry the renewable energy from CREZ facilities to the population centers of the state. The Public Utility Commission has been working with utility companies and landowners to decide where these lines should go.

ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: SPRING BREEDING BIRD CENSUS

2011-03-23T14:59:00.000-05:00

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

Hard to believe it's been a year since I began my Adventures in Wildlife Management. Throughout the past year I've had the opportunity to get dirty and scratched up from brush management work, witness the passion and dedication of one family to preserve their land for future generations, and take a long walk through the country side braving wasps and other Texas creatures to check nest boxes. When reflecting on these adventures, I'm not only genuinely happy that I actually participated in them -- and survived -- but I continue to be profoundly impressed by the commitment of my Plateau team and our Texas landowners.

There is one adventure from 2010, however, that I did not get the chance to share yet, and it happens to be one of my favorites, Plateau's Spring Breeding Bird Surveys. First, I must admit something, and I hope I don't offend any of the birders out there but, before joining Plateau, I was never really interested in birds. In fact, I was totally clueless that birdwatching was considered a real and, for many, passionate pastime until I moved to Texas. In the early days of my Plateau career, I was intrigued by the fact that the spring survey is one of the most popular services we offer. The more excited the Plateau birders and our clients became at the start of each spring bird season, the greater the intrigue. I began to learn some facts that truly piqued my interest, including the fact that Texas has the largest migration of birds during the springtime in the United States and that expert birders can identify birds not only by sight, but by sound as well.

While I now understood the excitement associated with our bird surveys, I was still living vicariously, perched in the office, listening to biologists discussing the surveys instead of listening to the birds. Time for an adventure! And who better than Plateau's very own bird expert and ornithological guru, Mark Gray, for my mentor and partner on my first bird survey? With a passion, vast knowledge of all things avian, and a slightly competitive spirit, Mark is an ideal birding partner.

If the early bird catches the worm, then you better get up early if you really want to take in the full birding experience. Mark and I headed out with the sunrise to a beautiful property along the Pedernales River. The ride out there was an adventure all in its own. Winding roads turned and twisted and took us over the river to our final destination.

Upon arrival to our first survey point, I quietly exited the car and tiptoed over to Mark. I did not want to be responsible for scaring the birds away. Apparently my super sly skills paid off because the first bird we heard was the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

My efforts to stand very still, make no movements, and hold every breath may have been a bit overdramatic as Mark, the expert was relaxed and behaved normally. But we did stand quietly with rapt attention as Mark listened and pointed out all the birds we heard. I was truly amazed and impressed. How was he hearing all of this? How did he know which bird he was hearing? Luckily for me, Mark was happy to teach me. Each time we heard a bird Mark would break down the song for me. So the next time I heard that bird sing I could start to identify it by its various chirps, tweets and trills. And it is true, every bird has its' own song.

At the following survey points I loosened up and took in the whole experience. With the direction from Mark I became more familiar in identifying birds and their songs, and I began to understand why people enjoy bird watching -- it's the challenge to identify the birds and the thrill when you hear a new one to add to your list. But there was also more to take in than just the birds, the morning was also a great opportunity to talk about plants, other animals, and ways to improve the habitat on the property.

The memory of the beautiful cool spring morning in the Hill Country listening to the birds will be a lasting one. Not only was I able to get a complete education on the Plateau Spring Breeding Bird survey, but I expanded my horizons and learned that something I once thought to be dull or boring was actually exciting and challenging. I am already looking for another great birding adventure! Thank you to Mark for sharing his passion for birding with me.

Until my next adventure, this one is for the birds!

Birdwatching offers the exciting challenge of identifying birds and the thrill when you are able to add a new one to your list. Photo by Lee Kothmann.

WASPS AND TREES: TO PARAPHRASE AN AGE-OLD QUESTION, WHICH CAME FIRST? THE CYNIPID WASP OR THE TREE GALL?

2011-03-23T14:51:00.001-05:00

by Jessica Mora, Intern, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

Recently there has been a movement for a greater understanding of the relationship between plants and insects, such as that between live oaks and a particular type of gall-forming cynipid wasp, Belonocnema treatae. Gall-formers are insects that lay their eggs on a host plant. The insect diverts the plant's energy, forming a hard substance that grows around the insect. This is called a gall. The wasp absorbs the tree's nutrients while growing within this protective shell.

This particular wasp goes through a sexual and asexual reproductive cycle. In the spring, newborn wasps hatch fully matured from root-galls, which are galls that form on the root of a tree. They then reproduce and lay their eggs onto the live oak leaf veins. These develop into tree galls, which are galls that grow on the leaves of the tree. After the insect emerges from the tree gall it leaves a scar on the leaf. In the fall, the wasp comes out of its tree gall and undergoes an asexual reproductive cycle. It then lays eggs on the trees roots, forming more root-galls. So, which came first, the cynipid wasp or the tree gall? We may never know.

These wasps act as parasites on live oaks, but some live oaks have developed a resistance to this specific gall-former invasion through a defense mechanism called hypersensitive response. The tree detects the foreign substance (the egg) being deposited on its leaf, and sends out a signal, which triggers a chemical reaction that causes localized cell death where the egg was deposited. This process leaves many holes in the leaves of the tree.

Research conducted at Texas State University indicates that about half of the live oak population in Texas has developed hypersensitive response. It also demonstrates adaptation within the process of plant/insect co-evolution.

Wasps lay eggs on live oak leaf veins, which develop into tree galls. Photograph courtesy Jessica Mora.

GROWING A RIVER

2011-03-23T14:46:00.000-05:00

by Cathy Ramsey, Contributing Author for Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

Paddling down a river is my favorite way to spend time near my home in Central Texas. The grassy hills and rocky, undulating terrain make for gushing springs and clear rivers offering up a seemingly endless succession of gentle rapids, stepping you down the stream one after another. The cool currents guide you through the countryside, rich with birdsong, wandering wildlife, and rustling breezes. What could possibly mar such a scene?

How about drought.

Dry periods are also a part of nature here, and while dreams of drifting down a full and lazy river may come to a screeching halt, they're prime time to prepare your land to take full advantage of every drop when the rains return. One key preparation is reestablishing native grasses.

Grasses are exceptional at building soil and aiding water infiltration, and can be managed to resupply our groundwater. The ideal time to seed our native warm season grasses is March and April. If you have bare areas or non-native pastures you want to convert back to native grasslands, now is the time to act.

Much of Central Texas was historically a mixed grass prairie, shorter on the ridge tops, mid-height on the slopes, and tallest in the bottom lands. Prairies absorb more water than they use, which resulted in huge aquifer reserves producing plentiful springs and abundant rivers. Since Texas became a state, farming, overgrazing, and development have changed things considerably. Less than .1% of this native prairie remains intact, and our springs and aquifers are diminishing at an alarming rate. We have already lost over a third of our historic springs, and more go dry all the time.

Reestablishing native grasses is an important step in water conservation, stream and river restoration, and the rewards become apparent in a relatively short time.

Reestablishing native grasses
Yard areas can be planted with shorter natives such as buffalo grass and blue gramma, and bordered with beds or swales of taller grasses to catch any runoff coming from the shorter yard. In areas of heavy deer traffic, taller bunch grasses such as big muhly and switchgrass can stand in for shrubs which deer can't seem to resist. Reseeding even a portion of your property can help reintroduce native seed stock which will spread with time. Choose a mix appropriate to your soil, and start with the early successional grasses which establish quickly, including blue and sideoats gramma, silver bluestem, green sprangletop, and bristle grass. Climax grasses such as little bluestem, switch, and indiangrass can be seeded simultaneously, but may take a bit longer to become established, particularly in dry years. Finally, throw in some Texas cupgrass seed, a beautiful and almost evergreen grass endemic to our area, which has the added bonus of being a favorite of painted buntings.

Once established, it's important to let the native grasses maintain their natural height. Mowing too frequently will prevent the bunch grasses from seeding, and eventually leave them vulnerable to competition from fast growing non-natives such as King Ranch bluestem and bermuda, which spread by both rhizome and seed. While occasional grazing or mowing at the highest setting possible is appropriate and beneficial, as described below, native prairie grasses maintained at their natural height have a network of roots extending deep and wide, loosening the soil to create a sponge-like layer. The taller the grass, the deeper the roots, and the better the possibility of infiltration with each rain, no matter how fast and hard it comes down. Some of these grasses have roots in excess of 17 feet deep! These taller grasses catch and hold water droplets along their stems, allowing absorption to continue after the rain has ended, and increasing overall intake into the soil. They also shade the soil, reducing evaporation and reflected heat, and act as filters, reducing pollution. Water that has filtered through the soil is not only purified, it's also cooled. When it's released through spring flow, rather than running over land as runoff, the temperature of our streams is stabilized, and our swimming holes stay clear, chilly, and inviting.

Know when to mow
Mowing once a year, generally in mid-February in most years, and perhaps again in early July during a wet year, is sufficient. Leaving alternate portions alone for a two year stretch will allow biennial forbs to become established, and provide cover and nesting structure for wildlife. In direct contrast to the benefits of grasses left at their natural height as described, above, short grass grows short roots, shrinking the active layer of life in the soil and reducing the ability of the soil to absorb water. Without the shading of taller foliage, the ground dries out faster and becomes hard, making the next rain less likely to be absorbed. The grass becomes dry and brittle, increasing fire danger. Considering that many of our natives, especially little bluestem, put on strong growth and begin seed production during the dry season of July and August, short mowing at that time places non-natives at the advantage. Moreover, the new growth present on the natives contains moisture brought up from deep in the soil and is less likely to burn than short, dry grass. If the grass is closely cropped at this time, more soil is exposed, and more heat is reflected. A tall meadow is noticeably cooler during the heat of the year; walk a path through one and feel for yourself! Lastly, too-frequent mowing increases compaction due to the weight of heavy equipment, further stifling root expansion and aeration. Runoff increases, erosion increases, and stream quality suffers.

If you're a fan of beautiful rivers, remember them when planning your landscape and managing your land. A big stand of native grass is not only a pleasure to view, swaying gently in the breeze, but is water in the bank and savings for the future.

Reestablishing native grasses is an important step in water conservation, stream and river restoration, and the rewards become apparent in a relatively short time. Photo by Lee Kothmann.

LAND MANAGEMENT FROM THE GROUND UP: TAKE A LOOK AROUND AND PLAY BY THE RULES WHEN PLANTING

2011-03-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

by Beyrl Armstong, Co-founder, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

In considering which plants are appropriate to be planted or removed from a property there are some hard and fast rules that must be followed. These rules are not devised by someone sitting behind a desk thinking of ways to complicate your lives. They have been established over thousands of years through natural selection. Plants live best where they have evolved. When we, with our ability to disobey the rules, start choosing from the broad palette that is available to us today we need to consider the rules of nature.

Soil Types
Most plants grow in soil. The type and depth of soil, its porosity, water retention capabilities as well as mineral and chemical makeup are crucial in choosing the right types of plants to put in the ground. The soils in the Hill Country are, by and large, shallow, tight (clayish), alkaline soils that only support very specifically adapted plants. In contrast, the soils north and west of Bastrop, only a few miles from Austin, are sandy, well drained and acidic, thereby supporting a population of loblolly pines.

I know of landowners who, having moved here from the Rockies, planted acidic sandy soil loving pines in the shallow alkaline clay of northern Blanco County. The pines all died, despite heroic efforts made to fertilize them. Had the landowners simply looked around the property they would have noticed that no pines were growing anywhere in the area. Wildlife Management Plans prepared by Plateau include a map and description of the soils found on a property and a list of plants that are appropriate for the area. These can be very valuable in planning and implementing brush and woodland management.

Weather
Some plants love the heat and flourish on hot dry hill sides; other plants are better suited for cool, shady creek sides. Freezing weather kills certain plants to the ground while "chilling hours" are required for other plants to flourish. Before going to the expense and effort of planting perennial plants, it is important to, once again, look around and see what is there. This is a good indication if plants will flourish in the specific environment that you are trying to enhance.

The Landowner's Notebook that accompanies each Plateau Wildlife Management Plan contains a recommended list of plants, which includes information on sun tolerance and climate that is appropriate for each species listed.

Water Needs
A plant's ability to deal with drought or, conversely, with moist soils, is also an important factor in determining its appropriateness in a specific portion of a property. Cedar (Ashe juniper) does not tolerate moist soils, Cedar Elms do. Lantana, agarito, and Texas persimmon are very drought tolerant plants, that's why they are found in abundance throughout the Hill Country. Big muhly grass and bushy bluestem will only grow in moist soil, that's why you often find them down slope from a pond or along shallow drainages. Observing the plants that are present in an area targeted for planting will help a landowner determine the water availability of the site. Using this information, in combination with the soil type and sun availability, Plateau clients can consult the plant list provided in the Landowner Notebook and make informed decisions on what and where to plant on their property.

Plants live best where they have evolved. Photo by Lee Kothmann.

THE CAT THAT ISN'T

2011-03-23T14:31:00.002-05:00

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

While the ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is often called a ringtail "cat," this saucer-eyed creature is actually one of the three members of the raccoon family (Procyonidae) that occur in Texas (the white-nosed coati is the third and least common). The origin of their moniker is obvious for anyone who has seen a ringtail. Their tail is in fact banded with 14-16 alternating black and white rings. Many people may never have seen a ringtail as they are strongly nocturnal and notably shy animals. It is not uncommon to see them during the many deer spotlight surveys we perform in the late summer and fall.

Ringtails occur throughout Texas, but are less common in the Rio Grande and Coastal Plains areas. They are cavity nesters and will use snags, old stumps, deer blinds, and any other protected cavity for denning. But, in particular, ringtails love rocky areas, and are one of the species that benefits from keeping those old rock fences that can be found all across the Edwards Plateau.

Just like their raccoon cousins, ringtails are omnivores. Their diet changes with the seasons and includes carrion, insects, and other arthropods such as grasshoppers, scorpions, and spiders. They also consume small birds, lizards, and fruits like persimmon, hackberry, juniper, and mistletoe.

As with any other native predator, providing high quality habitat for songbirds, reptiles, and other potential ringtail prey makes it less likely that they will have a negative impact. Most native predators are forced to live within the balance of the natural system unless we do things to artificially inflate their numbers (raccoons at deer feeders and trash cans come to mind). Healthy habitats also have lots of other food items (like fruit and insects) that they will readily eat if available so they don't need to go hunting for songbirds.

Ringtails are cavity nesters and will use snags, old stumps, deer blinds, and any other protected cavity for denning. They also love rocky areas, and provide the occasional pretty darn cute surprise for those checking larger nest boxes.

LANDOWNER SPOTLIGHT: RED CORRAL RANCH

2011-03-23T14:27:00.002-05:00

Having fun nurturing people and the land.

Few marketing taglines convey as much, or as accurately, as the one used by Red Corral Ranch. As Plateau Land & Wildlife Management clients since the company's founding in 1997, Colleen and James Reeves, and their Red Corral Ranch in Wimberley, Texas, represent a successful marriage of bountiful business and smart wildlife management.

Over the past 30 years, Red Corral Ranch has evolved into a nationally recognized holistic and environmentally aware retreat. Nestled on the ranch's 1,100 acres are bed and breakfast facilities and a special event venue, an iconic location for Texas Hill Country weddings. But beyond the ranch's "party barn" where hundreds of couples have celebrated the start of their new life together, and past the inviting cabins and cottages where hundreds of guests from around the world have relaxed and recharged, the ranch has also played host to thousands of other guests. Some hatch new life in the ranch's dozens of bluebird boxes, while others roam the hills as part of a healthy, well-managed deer population. Some flit and flutter about colorful butterfly gardens, while others nest in safe and secure Golden- cheeked Warbler habitat.

The Red Corral Ranch double path of economics and environment began in 1969, when Colleen and James purchased the rolling hills, grand oaks, and spectacular wildflowers of the Wimberley property as a weekend and vacation retreat from the family's city life, and respite from James' busy medical practice in Austin.

Recalls Colleen, "we both grew up in farming and ranching families, and we felt the need to break away from the city and reconnect with the land."

Like many families who purchase property for a "weekend" retreat, the Reeves found themselves devoting more time to the ranch and Colleen, in particular, developed a deep passion for land management. She threw herself into learning as much as she could about taking care of the land in classes and seminars, even traveling to other states for intensive training. Thanks to her active involvement in learning more about land management, Colleen became aware of the PlanIt Texas Project, and its search for a working site to demonstrate the feasibility of an economically successful ranching operation compatible with the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In the wake of the Golden-cheeked Warbler being listed as endangered in 1990 pursuant to the ESA, massive conflict churned in the Texas Hill Country (Edwards Plateau), where habitat for the bird occurs. Large numbers of landowners resented and resisted actions by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve the habitat. They worried that their land values would decline and their ranching livelihoods would be decimated if the protected birds were found on their land. From this atmosphere of fear and conflict was born the PlanIt Texas Project, a collaboration of federal, state, and local organizations representing a spectrum of views regarding the ESA, including the Texas Nature Conservancy and its then representatives David Braun and Beyrl Armstrong.

Colleen found the premise of the PlanIt Texas experiment to be an immensely interesting one, prompting the Reeves to offer up their ranch to serve as, essentially, the project's 1,100 acre laboratory. The size of the ranch was considered a good model for the area, and Red Corral Ranch was chosen as the PlanIt Texas working site.

As the various representatives helped and monitored the ranch in running cattle, operating a hunting enterprise, and developing an eco-tourism bed and breakfast, all within the ESA guidelines, Colleen remembers watching the suspicions and fear of the "other side" slowly but surely melt away.

"Whether federal, state, or local, we all came to realize there was no 'enemy,'" says Colleen. "Many of us had defined ourselves differently, but everyone's goal was the same - protecting and valuing our precious Texas land."

Ultimately, the impact of PlanIt Texas went far beyond 1,100 acres in Wimberley.

The PlanIt Texas experiment and the efforts of it members, including David Braun and Beyrl Armstrong, resulted in Wildlife Management Valuation (WMV) being voted into the Texas Constitution, allowing landowners managing for wildlife the same tax benefits as agricultural valuations. Braun and Armstrong also went on to found Plateau Land & Wildlife Management which has, to date, successfully converted over 2,200 properties to WMV and positively impacted more than 525,000 acres of Texas open space, including Red Corral Ranch.

"Working with Plateau in our wildlife management has provided a sense of safety," says Colleen. "They are very aware of the environment, know the ins and outs of wildlife management, and appreciate the sanctity of private property."

Following the successful completion of PlanIt Texas, Colleen became inspired to broaden the use and purpose of the ranch by expanding the facilities and opening the land to the public. The ranch would now offer a variety of amenities to the bed and breakfast guests, as well as host corporate and spiritual retreats and, upon the suggestion of Plateau's Beyrl Armstrong, host weddings -- today, one of the ranch's greatest claims to fame and income producers.

"Opening up this beautiful land to the public and offering more services has given us a unique opportunity to demonstrate to even more people that there are many of us who still care deeply about the land," observes Colleen. "Red Corral Ranch demonstrates that you can make a living without sacrificing the environment."

With Plateau's guidance, the Reeves have taken great care with the land and the environment. Activities are conducted when seasonally appropriate -- no loud brush management at Red Corral Ranch during bird breeding season -- and their efforts to recycle and reuse have not dissipated since the day they bought the ranch in 1969. Indeed, in early 2011, Red Corral Ranch installed its first rainwater collection system on the venue's "party barn" to collect water to keep the surrounding grass green in the most environmentally responsible way. Always keen on the details, Colleen notes "brides prefer green grass."

This year, Plateau is working with Red Corral Ranch to implement a rotational "flash grazing" program to effectively manage grass growth (far beyond the party barn) with the temporary grazing of cattle, a win-win arrangement for both Red Corral Ranch and understanding cattle ranchers in need of grass-rich land.

"Flash grazing with conservative stocking rates will allow the ranch to economically and effectively control excessive grass growth without depleting the perennial native grasses," says Kasey Mock, Plateau Business Development Coordinator. "It's a pleasure to work with clients like James and Colleen who have a high appreciation for the land, a desire to do what's best for it, and are open to alternatives. They understand the need for a diverse plan of approach and consulted with Plateau as to what would be best for their land."

On the Red Corral Ranch website, visitors will see the expected photographs of happy brides and enticing images of cozy guest cottages, but they will also see something less expected -- an outline of the ranch's holistic goals. Among those stated goals:

Maintain and improve a quality piece of land and a way of life that will provide the opportunity for our children to continue the management of the land.

Appreciate the opportunity for stewardship of the land.

"We know that the creeks that runs across our land, the trees and native grasses that grace our hills, and the wildlife in our ranch habitats have an impact that spreads far beyond our fences," says Colleen. "As we nurture the land, we also nurture and, hopefully, inspire people to do likewise and we really do have fun doing it."

Red Corral Ranch has become an iconic Texas Hill Country wedding location. Photograph of a bride and groom at the ranch in Wimberley, Texas by J. Cogliandro Photography.

RIPARIAN WORKSHOPS FOR LANDOWNERS AND DECISION MAKERS

2011-02-23T10:59:00.000-06:00

Riparian Workshops

for Landowners and Land Decision Makers

by Nueces River Authority Riparian Landowners’ Network

March 18th and

May 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, 2011

How do creeks and rivers work? Why do they move? Are floods bad? Is gravel natural?

What keeps rivers flowing during drought?

How can riparian function enhance wildlife habitat and sustain water on your land?

LEARN from leading experts the hows and whys of rivers and riparian function. Participants will learn basic riparian dynamics: the interaction of hydrology - vegetation - erosion/deposition. This information has been successfully used in many locations to promote cooperative riparian management among landowners. Leading riparian experts ‐ Kenneth Mayben, James Smith and Steve Nelle team teach these 1/2 classroom 1/2 field workshops that are sure to change the way you look at creeks and rivers forever.

Spring 2011 Riparian Workshop Schedule

Friday, March 18, 2011 – 9am-4pm - Independence Creek/Pecos River
Host: Texas Nature Conservancy
Register: Rachael Ranft to register rranft@TNC.org 512-968-6800

Monday, May 2, 2011 – 8:30am-4pm - San Marcos River in San Marcos
Hosts: Agri-life/San Marcos River Foundation/TPWD
Register: Nikki Dictson to register n-dictson@tamu.edu 979.458.3478

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 – 8:30am-4pm - San Felipe Creek
Host: City of Del Rio
Register: Jackie Robinson to register jrobinson@cityofdelrio.com 830-774-8638)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 – 8am-4pm – Frio River near Rio Frio
Hosts: Friends of Garner Park and Dawn Bell
Register: Nueces River Authority 830-278-6810 or slewey@nueces-ra.org

Thursday, May 5, 2011 – 8am-4pm – Nueces River and Bird Springs Creek
Host: Open V Ranch
Register: Nueces River Authority 830-278-6810 or slewey@nueces-ra.org

Friday, May 6, 2011 – 8am-4pm – Lower Nueces River near San Patricio de Hibernia
Hosts: Dougherty Historical Foundation and San Patricio County
Register: Nueces River Authority 830-278-6810 or slewey@nueces-ra.org

There is no registration fee. Registration will be accepted on a first come first serve basis, space is limited. If you register, your participation is expected. Contact Sky Lewey slewey@nueces-ra.org 830-278-6810 for more information. Additional information, including directions to workshop locations will be sent to those who register.

The Riparian Landowners’ Network is a project of the Nueces River Authority, created to raise awareness and cultivate understanding among riparian landowners about the relationship between healthy riparian areas and abundant clean water in the Nueces Basin. Participation in the network is completely voluntary and comes with no conditions. Since 2007 the Network has held 30 riparian workshops reaching 655 landowners and decision makers who influence 1.578 million acres of land. Riparian understanding is spreading and the demand for this information is growing across Texas. Funding for the project has come from The Dixon Water Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, Shield-Ayres Foundation, Save the Laja, The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, The John and Florence Newman Foundation, Yates Cattle and Conservation, Stewards of the Nueces, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and private contributions with guidance from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and cooperation from interested, local soil and water conservation districts. The Riparian Network will host its final workshops in 2011 unless additional funding is found.

PLATEAU AT THE TEXAS EXPERIENCE AT THE SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO

2011-02-15T09:31:00.001-06:00

Plateau is proudly displaying our turkey feeder and wildlife water table at the Texas Experience exhibit at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo which is held February 2-20 at the Freeman Coliseum. The Texas Experience is a combined effort between Agrilife Extension, TWA, TPWD, and Texas Master Naturalists. Last year 130,000 people visited the Texas Experience.

Plateau product at the Texas Experience at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo

FREE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR IN SAN ANTONIO TONIGHT (FEB 15)

2011-02-15T07:51:00.003-06:00

The following seminar is from 6-8pm. To RSVP or for more information, contact Kameron at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com

February 15, 2011
Bexar County
Bass Pro Shop
17907 IH 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78257

FREE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR IN BUFFALO, TEXAS ON FEBRUARY 8

2011-02-07T15:14:00.002-06:00

The following seminar is from 6-8pm. To RSVP or for more information, contact Kameron at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com

February 8, 2011
Leon County
Buffalo Community Center
942 Hill St.
Buffalo, TX 76520

BIRDY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

2011-02-03T13:42:00.006-06:00

Texas has been arctic blasted and will continue to be for the next couple of days. While we can dust off our once-a-year winter coats and dig to the bottom of the drawer for a scarf, how do our wild feathered friends survive the cold?

Our Plateau wildlife biologists report that Ashe Juniper (cedar) actually provides excellent thermal cover for birds and other wildlife during cold weather -- a perfect reminder that low shrub cover or brush piles are important in wildlife management. (Also, on the other side of the weather coin, in Texas, where heat is a more common problem than cold, this cover also works well as shading to keep wildlife cool).

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a great article on how birds survive the winter. Did you know that some birds can lower their body temperature at night and enter regulated hypothermia, saving significant amounts of energy? Or that by fluffing their plumage, they trap air and create an insulating layer? For those of us with bird baths, should we be boiling water to pour on frozen baths? Get the bare bird facts here.

Fluffed plumage adds insulation during the cold of winter. Photo by Lee Kothmann.

JANUARY 20TH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SEMINARS

2011-01-20T08:52:00.000-06:00

Please join us tonight at the following locations to learn more about wildlife management valuation and discuss other wildlife issues. The following seminars are all from 6-8pm. To RSVP to any of the following or for more information, contact Kameron at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com. Or see more upcoming wildlife seminar dates.

Travis County
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy
Austin, TX 78746

Blanco County
Johnson City Library
501 Nugent Ave
Johnson City, TX 78636

Victoria County
Hampton Inn
7006 N. Navarro
Victoria, TX 77904

JANUARY 18TH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SEMINARS!

2011-01-18T09:46:00.000-06:00

Please join us tonight at the following locations to learn more about wildlife management valuation and discuss other wildlife issues. The following seminars are all from 6-8pm. To RSVP to any of the following or for more information, contact Kameron at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com. Or see more upcoming wildlife seminar dates.

Bell & Coryell Counties
Mayborn Civic & Community Center
3303 N. 3rd St.
Temple, TX 76501

Bexar County
Bass Pro Shop
17909 IH 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78028

Washington & Lee Counties
Fireman's Kitchen
910 North Park Street
Brenham, TX 77834-1059

PIGS GONE WILD: THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DESTRUCTION BEING WREAKED BY WILD HOGS IN TEXAS

2011-01-07T14:47:00.003-06:00

Smithsonian.com has an in-depth look at the shockingly destructive and invasive wild hog problem across the southern United States, but most significantly in Texas. Plateau recently re-engineered our cowbird trap to also operate as a feral hog trap. We have inventory on the way and will be rolling more details shortly. From the article:

"Wild hogs are among the most destructive invasive species in the United States today. Two million to six million of the animals are wreaking havoc in at least 39 states and four Canadian provinces; half are in Texas, where they do some $400 million in damages annually. They tear up recreational areas, occasionally even terrorizing tourists in state and national parks, and squeeze out other wildlife.

...

"Wild hogs are “opportunistic omnivores,” meaning they’ll eat most anything. Using their extra-long snouts, flattened and strengthened on the end by a plate of cartilage, they can root as deep as three feet. They’ll devour or destroy whole fields—of sorghum, rice, wheat, soybeans, potatoes, melons and other fruits, nuts, grass and hay. Farmers planting corn have discovered that the hogs go methodically down the rows during the night, extracting seeds one by one.

"Hogs erode the soil and muddy streams and other water sources, possibly causing fish kills. They disrupt native vegetation and make it easier for invasive plants to take hold. The hogs claim any food set out for livestock, and occasionally eat the livestock as well, especially lambs, kids and calves. They also eat such wildlife as deer and quail and feast on the eggs of endangered sea turtles."

Read the complete article here.

For more information on our cowbird/feral hog trap, contact Plateau.

CORRECTLY TIMING BRUSH MANAGEMENT

2010-12-17T12:27:00.001-06:00

Brush management is a land management practice that yields a variety of results. Done improperly, the results seriously alter and damage the landscape -- just one hour with an ill-considered round of chainsawing can take one hundred years to repair. But, when done correctly, brush management enhances your property's value to wildlife, aesthetics, and the surrounding ecosystem. While there are no sure things in land management, a well-considered brush management plan helps ensure the desired results are achieved.

The first step of a proper management plan is to decide the goals for your property. For properties under a 1-d-1w wildlife management use appraisal, the goal should be to improve the health of the land in a way that benefits your targeted wildlife species.

The next consideration should be when to conduct the planned work. With the exception of endangered species habitat, 1-d-1w guidelines allow brush management to be conducted anytime between January 1 and December 31. However, there are times when conducting brush management could be harmful to target wildlife species. For instance, if your wildlife management plan includes managing for songbirds, running chainsaws or equipment in songbird habitat during their breeding season could have a negative impact on the next year's population. While the cool weather of spring might be the most enticing time of year to fire up a chainsaw to clear brush, doing so might hurt the wildlife you are trying to protect. The whine of a saw and the disturbance of brush are not conducive to reproductive activities; nesting may be disrupted and newborns stressed. As the typical songbird breeding season in Central Texas lasts from March 15 to August 15, the better times for conducting brush management are from January 1 through March 15, and from August 15 through December 31.

Similarly, when conducting brush management with equipment such as a skid steer with hydraulic shears on a property being managed for quail or turkey, brush management safely occurs from January 1 through March 31 and from October 1 through December 3. These birds are ground nesting birds, and equipment can inadvertently run over and destroy nests and eggs.

An added benefit of conducting brush management with equipment during these dates is that they also coincide with the recommended dates for planting native grasses that are beneficial to both the land and wildlife. These two management practices work well together not only because of the timing, but also because using equipment to conduct brush management will disturb the soil which is a requirement of planting grass seed. By conducting these practices together, there is an increased ecological benefit. Planting the appropriate seeds can help ensure that the new vegetation will create good quality habitat for the target wildlife species.

Brush management is conducted in a variety of ways and times throughout the year to achieve any number of management goals. The benefits of brush management increase when implemented with a well developed plan, executed at the proper time, and matched with complimentary management practices.

Plateau offers selective and ecologically sound brush management which maintains the integrity of the habitat for native wildlife, while enhancing the beauty of your property. Whether high intensity, machine brush clearing or hand work, our skilled field technicians implement techniques that are tailored to the habitat needs of your property and its wildlife. Contact us for more details.

When done correctly, brush management enhances your property's value to wildlife, aesthetics, and the surrounding ecosystem.

COWS, PLOWS, AND WILDLIFE

2010-12-17T12:22:00.002-06:00

A balancing act for Texas landowners

by Kasey Mock, Plateau Business Development Coordinator

As I visit with landowners across Texas, there is a common theme that eventually surfaces as we discuss the ins and outs of wildlife management. The question of whether or not landowners, particularly new landowners, should allow cattle to graze their property is an issue that I often struggle with myself, and I have yet to find a consistent answer applicable to landowners as a whole. My usual response is to first give careful consideration to the condition of the property, and secondly to take into account the landowner's goals.

It might help to think back to the Spanish conquistadors who came upon this piece of heaven we now call the state of Texas. These early settlers made notes of scattered trees and grasses as tall as the stirrups of their saddles. Then came the Anglo cowboys who took advantage of the seemingly endless supply of grass and stocked large numbers of Mexican cattle, soon followed by sheeps and goats, to satisfy an increasing demand from the east. Although the landscape changed and the once abundant native grasses fell victim to overuse, the demand for food and fiber continued to grow as producers struggled to get more out of the land. Improved exotic grasses such as Tifton Bermuda Grass and King Ranch Bluestem were introduced as the substitute for natives, offering higher yields and an increased carrying capacity. While these production goals were met, the indigenous Texas wildlife paid a heavy price. It was this strain upon producers facing an ever increasing demand for food and fiber, coupled with land fragmentation and property values driven by the non-traditional rural land buyer, that eventually led to the special valuation on open-space agricultural and wildlife lands in our Texas Constitution.

While today's rural landowners in wildlife have the ability to actively manage their property without the use of the cow and the plow to maintain a favorable property tax valuation, being in wildlife does not mean letting the land go wild. The need for ongoing management persists as land that is left alone can be quickly overtaken by invasive species, ultimately unusable to critters and problematic for humans. In his 1933 textbook Game Management, Aldo Leopold wrote "game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which have heretofore destroyed it -- ax, plow, cow, fire, and gun." Considered the father of wildlife management, Leopold understood the need for diversity, both of habitat and the approach to management. He also recognized that with proper application, the cow and plow can serve as an asset to the wildlife cautious property manager.

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting with a client in Lavaca County who made the switch from ag to wildlife in 2008. By removing cattle and allowing his property to rest for multiple growing seasons, he has seen an incredible recruitment of native grasses and the benefits being reaped by quail, turkey, deer, and other wildlife species. Though this may seem a final success story, that isn't why we met at his 70 acre property. The rebound of native grasses has also created the perfect scenario for a beneficial rotational grazing program. By evaluating the available forage load we were able to make proper stocking rate suggestions. Today he is preparing to re-stock for a spring "flash graze." This is a prime example of a property owner taking advantage of the increased options available through wildlife management.

The rebound of native grasses may create the perfect scenario for a beneficial rotational grazing program.

Routinely grazing a property will continue to promote overall plant diversity while contributing beneficial bacteria and aeration to the soil. As we evaluated his property, I continued to reaffirm the importance of monitoring forage levels and the benefits of a rotational grazing program. I was reminded of a phrase my father-in-law, a life-long rancher, shared with me. He explained to me that he uses cattle to regulate grass, rather than grass to grow beef. A successful land steward is in the grass business, not the cattle business.

For years the State of Texas, through the Cooperative Extension Service, taught landowners how to cultivate scientifically improved grasses which require large amounts of fertilizer and herbicide. Fortunately, these producers recognized the lack of sustainability and long term effects of exotics. Realizing this, Dr. Larry Redmond with Texas AgriLife Extension is focusing efforts toward a state wide campaign to educate landowners on the importance of re-establishing Texas native grasses. A mosaic of shrubs and native grasses creates ideal habitat for bobwhite quail and other ground nesting birds, while reducing input costs and the environmental impact of the cattle producer.

As a former 4-H member and director for Hays County Farm Bureau board, I am a lifelong advocate for Texas Agriculture. With agriculture being the leading job creator in Texas, and the world dependence on a steady supply of food and fiber, where would we end up if every acre of Texas was taken out of production? The answer is simple: naked and hungry. That being said, I am reminded of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt during his 1912 Confession of Faith Speech, "There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country." I suspect that the former President, along with Mr. Leopold, would have shared similar views of conservation and habitat management.

So, should farming and ranching be left to the farmers and ranchers, or should wildlife management property owners include grazing in their activities? In a nutshell, it just depends. The only absolute for a landowner is to always approach the answer with reverence for stewardship and careful consideration of the condition of the property and landowner goals.

I wish you a prosperous and wild 2011!

SOLID TERRAIN MODELING: A MAP OF YOUR LAND IN 3D

2010-12-17T12:19:00.000-06:00

by Zach Stark, Plateau Level II Wildlife Services Field Technician, B.S. Geography

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management is excited to announce that we have teamed with Solid Terrain Modeling Inc. (STM), a nationally recognized leader in three dimensional (3D) mapping technology. Together, we are taking mapping capabilities for our clients to the next level.

Plateau client landowners now have the ability to showcase their land with a 3D model map, available in a wide range of sizes from desktop to wall mount, that is easily interpreted, catches the eye, and serves a wide variety of purposes. Whether you want to display your ranch for personal pleasure or for detailed land and wildlife management planning, a 3D terrain model is an invaluable tool to have at your disposal. Maybe you live hours from your property and want to be able to accurately convey to your friends and family how to navigate to that special hunting blind or stock tank, or you're tied to the office but need to make sure the planning and development of a large land project is conducted exactly how you envisioned, these instructional and engaging educational tools give unprecedented clarity and communicate effectively the message you need to convey.

Plateau begins the 3D mapping process by defining the area you want to model and obtaining a set of digital elevation data points that are then entered into our milling computer so high density polyurethane foam can be cut into the surface topography. After this base is built, STM takes high resolution satellite imagery of the landscape and uses its special fly-over printing technology to print directly onto the model. The end result is an extremely accurate scale representation your land.

This very same patented STM technology has been used for everything from personal ranch maps to National Geographic Society exhibits to a discussion of the landscape of Afghanistan by General Petraeus in his Meet the Press interview.

For more information on how our 3D mapping can work for you and your land, contact us today.

General Petraeus discusses the landscape of Afghanistan with an STM map. Screenshot taken from his Meet the Press interview.

PURPLE MARTIN BOX INSTALLATIONS

2010-12-17T12:17:00.000-06:00

Purple Martins begin arriving in February. Installation of Purple Martin boxes by Plateau's expert field technicians is currently underway and will finish up for the season in February. Photo courtesy Lee Kothmann.

For centuries, Native American tribes attracted Purple Martins to their villages with clusters of hollowed-out gourds. Experts have surmised that the Purple Martins served as village alarm clocks with their early morning singing or, perhaps, they were feathered watchdogs, as the large swallow is well-known for sounding out alarm calls when predators or strangers approach the colony site. Whatever the reason for the attraction, the Purple Martin has been managed intentionally by humans longer than any other North American songbird. Today, whether for their beauty, song, or voracious appetite for pesky flying insects, an estimated 1 million North Americans provide housing for Purple Martins. Due to a decline in natural nesting sites (such as tree cavities) as a result of urban sprawl, farming and logging, as well as competition from the non-native House Sparrow and European Starling, human-provided housing and management has become vital to Purple Martins, especially east of the Rocky Mountains, where they have undergone a complete "tradition shift." Purple Martins are now the only bird species entirely dependent on humans for supplying them with nesting cavities. Purple Martins arrive at their Texas timeshares around the first half of February after spending approximately five months in South America. (Purple Martin information from The Purple Martin and Its Management published by Texas Parks and Wildlife).

ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE: SITE MONITORING VISIT

2010-12-17T12:14:00.000-06:00

The ecstasy and then the big bug agony of nest box maintenance

by Kameron Bain, Plateau Business Development

2010 has been a year full of new adventures for me. I never imagined that when I started working at Plateau Land & Wildlife Management over three years ago that I would have the opportunity to experience the pain and victory of brush management, or the joy of working with a family as they embark on a new journey with their land. For my next adventure I knew it was time to head back out with the tech team, and after my bruising brush with brush management experience I hoped for something a little more mellow. A nice walk in the wilderness checking nest boxes sounded just right. However, the day turned out to be more of an adventure then I had originally planned.

It had been a busy few months at the office so I was excited to get out and away from my email and phone for some peace and serenity in the hill country. I was not at the least bit concerned when Plateau wildlife services technician and my fellow adventurer for the day Zach Stark loaded up the wasp spray and snake guards. We had a busy day ahead of us checking more than forty nest boxes and I did not want to slow him down.

Zach had done much preparation the day before at the office so we could get to the property and immediately get going. And that is what we did. In fact we spent the next 6 hours straight going and going and going.

The day started off great. It was a perfect, crisp fall day and the first few nest boxes we found quickly and easily. Zach and I made a great team. He would open the boxes and I would take the photos and write down all the important information. Opening each nest box was like opening a new gift. I was amazed at the quality of the nests. Each nest was carefully and strategically crafted with twigs, moss, grass and even trash and hair.

As the day wore on we encountered obstacles such as hard to find or missing nest boxes, terrain that was unmanageable, or nest boxes in need of repair. But the one obstacle (at least from my perspective) that reigned supreme over all others? Bugs! Nest boxes also make good homes for bugs, apparently. Having grown up in the wilderness of New Hampshire where I came across plenty of bugs I never considered myself a wimp. But as the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. Even the bugs.I have never seen bigger wasps or more scorpions in my life. While I was in the mood for a nice walk, I was not in the mood to get stung. Plus, I really did not want to cry in front of Zach who sacrificed himself to the wrath of the wasps. He let me hide when we came across a nest that had a dull hum or vibration.

By late afternoon I lost a lot of the pep in my step. The constant maneuvering through brush, the escape of the wasps, and the warm sun was starting to take its toll on me. Zach, on the other hand, kept pushing along with the same energy and quick step. I was beyond impressed by his level of dedication and hard work. He always did his due diligence to find a missing nest box, find the perfect spot for a new nest box, or fix a damaged box even if it meant trekking back to the truck.

After navigating our way around a lake to clean a duck box, my day was done and I was exhausted. Once again, I am in awe of the challenges and hard work the tech team faces every day. It is nice to get out of the office but I doubt I could do all they do with the same level, skill, and expertise -- day in and day out.

Ultimately, as in my previous adventures, I learned valuable wildlife management lessons including the importance of checking your nest boxes between birding seasons. The property Zach and I visited had not checked their boxes in a year. Some of the boxes had multiple nests in them so there was no room left for a new bird family. Also, those bugs needed to be removed and damages fixed. Thanks to the Plateau team, many properties will have successful breedings seasons.

Finally, a personal thank you to Zach for allowing me to tag along for the day and braving those wasps. Your knowledge and dedication is invaluable to Plateau. Even though the day was long and tiring, it was fun and interesting. Plus after all the exercise, I slept like a rock.

Until next season, have a Happy New Year!

A new owl shack is installed on a site monitoring visit. Kameron no doubt stands exhausted, just off camera.

BRINGING PLATEAU HOME

2010-12-17T12:12:00.001-06:00

Nurturing wildlife and the land in a city backyard

by Stacy Marcus, Plateau Sales and Marketing Assistant

Growing up in a big city, I had very little opportunity to experience the vast array of wildlife Texas has to offer. But during the past few months since joining Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, I've been given a chance to dive head-first into Plateau's wealth of wildlife and land conservation knowledge and experience.

While I always understood the importance of taking care of our environment, that understanding shifted from my head to my heart when I became pregnant. Like most parents, I want only the best for my child, and that includes a future full of the color and wonder of nature. In the Spring issue Seasons, our company founder, David Braun, wrote in his article "Beyond BP" about the millions of daily small assaults on our environment -- the pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum products, garbage and byproducts of our modern lifestyle. Believing in the premise that one person can make a difference, along with my family, I decided to not be one of those small assaults on the environment. Instead, we decided to be one of its small champions. Our goals were environmentally friendly gardening, lawn maintenance, and to encourage wildlife visits.

First up, we eliminated the use of harmful lawn chemicals and our usual "weed and feed" routine. This meant hand-pulling weeds instead. Oh joy! Surveying the blanket of dandelions looming above the grass in our front yard, I certainly felt overwhelmed initially. With a "baby steps" plan of action to attack it by sections, I chose the most visible area first and with a bucket and a dandelion puller in hand, my daughter and I headed outside. I was pleasantly surprised by the attention span of a two and a half year old. Although she was more successful pulling out blades of grass than actual weeds, she loved being outside with me and helping. I was also surprised by just how satisfying it was to pull out these unsightly weeds. Each time I pulled out another large plant, I could almost hear the grass sigh with relief. All the while, I'm out in the fresh air of morning with my daughter listening to the birds sing.

Next, we added a simple bird feeder and source of water. If you feed them, they will come! I am simply amazed by the amount and variety of birds that visit our feeder. We have seen Cardinals and Blue Jays and a host of other birds just waiting to be identified. The activity at our feeder morning and evening has become my family's "must-see tv." By the end of the nesting season, we counted three different Dove nests and a Mockingbird nest in the neighbor's tree. My daughter and I even had the enchanting opportunity to watch a Blue Jay chick learn to fly. Together, we watched the baby hop around with both parents standing guard on the fence.

Our next mission is increased rainwater harvesting and composting. Why waste all that delicious water when it's free and gardens thrive on rainwater? Several cities now offer rebate programs for the purchase and installation of rainwater collection barrels. Some even encourage composting. The City of Austin, for example, has offered a rebate up to $75 towards the purchase of compost bins.

Overall, the process of nurturing the land and wildlife in our city home has been easy, surprisingly cost-effective, and remarkably similar to a Plateau wildlife management plan. While the process has been simple, the physical and emotional rewards have been almost incalculable. Our yard is beautiful, one of the few on our block that remain thick and green. We've spent rewarding, quality time outdoors with our hands in the dirt. As a family, we take joy in watching our feathered friends feed at breakfast and dinner. It feels good to know my family and I are doing our small part to take care of this wonderful place while at the same time teaching the next generation a love of nature.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) offers loads of information on how to make your home and backyard more wildlife friendly, including regional resources, and how to have your backyard certified as a wildlife habitat by the NWF, like Stacy. For more information, visit their website at nwf.org.

Flora and fauna flourishing in Stacy's backyard!

TEAMING WITH WILDLIFE: SUPPORTING TPWD AND ITS NON-GAME WILDLIFE PROGRAMS

2010-12-17T12:08:00.000-06:00

by David Braun, Plateau CEO, Co-founder

Since its founding, Plateau has been driven by its mission of helping private landowners achieve their wildlife conservation goals. So, it won't come as any surprise that many of our employees are active in a variety of wildlife conservation causes outside of work, too. For the last 6 years, I've been proud to serve as Chairman of the Texas Teaming With Wildlife Coalition.

The Coalition was established to support the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and its non-game wildlife programs at the state and federal level. I give my time and money to this effort because I believe that having robust public programs for wildlife conservation is critical to our success in Plateau's private conservation work. Using state and federal funding, TPWD provides an array of research, educational programs and technical support that support conservation efforts by private landowners and consultants like Plateau. TPWD is our critical partner.

In my 6 years with the Coalition, and for that matter the 25 years I've been working in this field, I've never seen such a poor climate for publicly-funded conservation programs. At the federal level, much needed new environmental protection initiatives are off the table and our coalition expects to spend the next few years just trying to protect existing programs from cuts as Congress looks for ways to reduce the federal deficit. At the state level, with revenue shortfalls at a record level, TPWD and other agencies are being asked to cut 7-8% from already tight budgets.

Before the legislative session is over in June, TPWD may lose even more of its ability to assist private landowners. For those of you who want to help with the work of the Coalition, you can become a member by contacting Carolyn Burton at cburton@braunassociateslaw.com or by phone at 512-894-5426. We will also be sending more information in future mailings.

In this economic climate, the work of private landowners becomes more important than ever. No one who cares about the health of our natural world can reasonably expect that the conservation job will be done by our government agencies alone. Clients of Plateau and other landowners like them are the front line and most important players in conserving our wildlife resources for future generations. For everyone who can, now is the time to redouble and expand their personal efforts toward improved land stewardship, habitat creation and wildlife management on their land. Plateau is proud to be a partner to so many who are doing so much and we look forward to helping you as you work to achieve your goals.

THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF OPEN SPACE

2010-12-17T12:05:00.000-06:00

A refresher on why ag/wildlife valuation matters and why it cannot be taken away

By Shane Kiefer, Plateau Senior Wildlife Biologist

When tax bills began arriving in the fall, you were no doubt reminded of the the economic benefit of having a wildlife or agricultural valuation in place. Many of you are also probably aware of the impending budget deficit that our legislators will face as they prepare a new state budget in the first half of next year. We at Plateau are often asked, "Are they going to take away my wildlife or agricultural valuation?" And as certain as death and taxes, we should expect at least one or two newspaper articles in the spring about how some landowners are getting tax "exemptions" for having a few cows or some wildlife on their property and thus not paying their fair share. While many of you have heard Plateau make this case before, going into the 2011 Texas legislative session, a refresher is in order.

There is a strong protection built into the way the open-space (ag/wildlife valuation) law is structured, which should ease your mind a little. The laws that allow for a special valuation on open-space agricultural and wildlife lands are required by the Texas Constitution Article VIII, §1-d-1, which says that the legislature "SHALL provide by general law for taxation of open-space land devoted to farm, ranch, or wildlife management purposes on the basis of its productive capacity..." (emphasis added).

This means that the legislature cannot simply pass a law to eliminate these special valuations. They can change the rules and requirements, but they cannot eliminate it without amending the constitution, and only the people of Texas can do that.

The laws that allow for a special valuation on open-space agricultural and wildlife lands are required by the Texas Constitution. This means that the legislature cannot simply pass a law to eliminate these special valuations.

The premise that landowners enjoying the benefits of wildlife and agricultural valuations are not paying their fair share is a flawed one. To start, these are not tax "exemptions," they are special valuations designed to tax land on its productive capacity instead of its market value. The truth is that owners of open-space land are helping to make up for deficits in delivering services to residential property. According to a compilation of studies from across the country by the American Farmland Trust, the median cost to provide services to working and open-space lands is only $0.37 for every dollar raised in tax revenue from those lands. This ratio is also known as the Cost of Community Services (COCS) ratio. The open-space land ratio is comparable to the ratio for commercial lands ($0.29/$1.00). In contrast, providing services to residential land costs $1.19 for every dollar raised. That means it costs more to provide services to all those people and houses than they pay in property taxes.

Texas lands are no different. Three counties in Texas had ratios ranging from 0.18/$1.00-0.33/$1.00, which means that Texas open-space land is even more cost-efficient than the national median. Despite the substantially higher revenues that residential use brings in over open-space land with those special valuations on it, the infrastructure and service needs for all that open-space land are much lower. As David Langford of the Texas Wildlife Association has said "cows don't go to school, songbirds don't call 9-1-1, and crops don't require the 'jaws of life' or Medivac helicopters after Saturday night smashups on the freeway."

And remember, you are still paying market value on all the structures (if any are present) and the associated residential land on your property. The only land receiving the tax break is that used for wildlife or agricultural purposes and that requires virtually no government services.

Of course, there are lots of intangible and difficult to quantify reasons to support open-space including improved water quality, wildlife habitat, scenic-views, etc. As wildlife biologists, these mean quite a bit to the Plateau team. As taxpayers, though, it is nice to see that the economics make sense as well.

As we enter the next legislative session in January 2011, remember to encourage your representatives to support open-space. Even though they cannot eliminate ag/wildlife valuations without a constitutional amendment, they can adjust the rules to make it more difficult to qualify. And for anyone who wants to do away with them, remember that if that occurs, lots of land will hit the market with the resulting rapidly increasing taxes, driving prices (and tax revenues) down. And never forget that conversion of land to residential use may result in more tax revenue, but that comes with higher costs to the state and local governments who provide essential services, erasing any benefit to government coffers.

EXPLORING YOUR PROPERTY: AN END OF THE YEAR WALKABOUT (OR HORSE OR TRUCKABOUT)

2010-12-17T11:59:00.000-06:00

The end of the year is a great time to explore your property.

As 2010 winds down and New Year's resolutions are made (or at least contemplated), now is a great time to put some thought into how your land is faring. Spend some time, perhaps a sunny afternoon, and really explore your land. With bugs and critters at a minimum, and Texas temperatures typically pretty nice (not too hot and not too cold), winter is an excellent time to explore your property. As your land is constantly changing, you might notice things now that you wouldn't in the middle of the summer.

Look for any changes over the past year (or years) that might be negatively impacting your property. Check for soil erosion. Are there places where your soil is headed downhill to your neighbor's property or into the creek? Placement of slash or rocks to slow the flow and seeding bare areas can help address this.

Have invasive species invaded? Common invasive species include Chinaberry, Chinese tallow, and willow baccharis. In the case of Chinese tallow, its numbers in East Texas increased by 174 percent from 1992 to 2007, creating tight monoculture grips on the land, excluding diversity, and wiping out special habitat and native grasslands. If you do find some non-native trees, removing them before they proliferate saves headaches in the long run. Think about having them taken out, turned into dead snags to provide nesting and roosting areas for native birds, or replaced with colorful native varieties. Carolina buckthorn, flame-leaf, fragrant and evergreen sumacs, rough-leaf dogwood, red oaks, and big tooth maples all provide wonderful fall colors, and will help you let go of any beautiful, but potentially damaging, invasives.

Assess your cedar control. Are there areas that need to be thinned out? Keep in mind that slash, the material from cut trees that you've taken out, can be put to good use as erosion control or standing brush piles, providing habitat for small critters that keep the food chain going. Running the slash through a shredder and using it as mulch is also a good option. Burning it is the most economical choice but should be a last resort, as that can sterilize the soil beneath the burn pile, leaving a bare patch open to erosion and/or eventual invasion by fast-growing, non-native grasses. Returning slash to the land instead will build your soil, counteract past erosion, and improve your soil's ability to hold water. And consider where to sow some native grasses.

While on your walkabout (or horse or truckabout) look at your property through the eyes of the wildlife. How do the deer find your property? Wildlife are primarily looking for three things: food, water, and shelter. As wildlife managers, it is our goal to provide adequate food, water, and shelter. As land stewards, we need to determine if the best way is through natural or supplemental methods. As you explore your property, look at the biodiversity of plants, check out your brush piles, and see if you have any nest boxes that might need replacing.

Finally, look at your land as just that -- your land! As you explore, think about improvements you might want to make. Wildlife ponds, nature trails, and wildlife viewing destinations are common additions that will allow you to better enjoy your land in 2011 and beyond!

CEDAR WAXWING: BEAUTIFUL BERRY BANDIT

2010-11-19T15:06:00.003-06:00

Every winter, familiar, high-pitched whistles gently pierce the cold Texas air. Flocks of black-masked, berry-snatching bandits appear from the north. The trill of their call, the sleekness of their form, and the bright droplets of color at the terminus of their feathers are unmistakable. This is the Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), one of two waxwing species (the other being Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) residing in more northern latitudes).

Cedar Waxwings are silky, medium sized birds with yellow bellies, light brownish-gray crested heads, and black masks lined in white, across their eyes. Their name derives from the red wax-like marking on the tips of their secondary feathers. The tips of their tail feathers look as though they were dipped in yellow paint. Mostly frugivorous (toss that into conversation at your next cocktail party), they assemble at berry-yielding trees such as Ashe juniper, yaupon, beautyberry, and dogwood.

Their appreciation for fruit carries interesting repercussions, however. An introduced Eurasian honeysuckle bears fruit that if consumed enough, has turned populations of waxwing’s tail feathers bright orange instead of yellow. Perhaps more disquieting, waxwings are known to eat exceedingly ripe, fermented fruit to the point of intoxication. This over-imbibing can lead to alcohol poisoning and even death (maybe don’t invite a Cedar Waxwing to your next cocktail party). Stories recount small groups flying directly into moving vehicles and reflective window panes.

So each winter when you hear the Cedar Waxwing's clear trills in the cedar, take comfort in the fact you have not spotlessly cleaned your windows or sliding glass doors before your holiday guests arrive. It's your Cedar Waxwing safety measure.

NOTE: How to prevent birds from flying into your glass windows and doors? Check out Top 10 Things You Can Do To Prevent Window Strikes on BirdWatchersDigest.com.

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management provides services and products for rural landowners throughout the Texas Hill Country and beyond. For more information, visit www.PlateauWildlife.com.

'TIS THE SEASON...FOR WINTERING AND RESIDENT BIRD SURVEYS!

2010-10-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

Did you know that in some parts of Texas nearly half of the bird species are found only during cooler months? That's why Plateau offers our Wintering and Resident Bird Surveys starting the first of November. Conducted by one of our experienced birders, these surveys not only qualify for a wildlife management activity, they are also a great opportunity for you and your family to enjoy a fun and informative tour of your property!

Plateau's Wintering and Resident Bird Surveys complement our Spring Breeding Bird Census (BBC) by providing valuable information on bird population dynamics. Having one of Plateau's expert birders conduct this seasonal activity is a great opportunity to learn which birds are utilizing your property during the winter months. Additionally, you can use the information to identify important wintering habitats, track population trends, and create management plans for year-round use. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your survey!

COUNTING DEER: IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL

2010-10-12T04:24:00.000-05:00

As recently reported in the Austin-American Statesman, Plateau has been hired by the City of Austin to count the deer population in the Northwest Hills area for data analysis. For most of us who have the opportunity to see our Texas white-tailed deer on a regular basis, they are a valued part of our wildlife landscape. But with suburban sprawl, a decrease in natural population controls, and an increase in year-round food and water availability, deer herds in many suburban neighborhoods have become dangerously overpopulated. Statistics show that every year deer/vehicle collisions result in 29,000 people injured, 200 people killed, an estimated 1.5 million deer killed, and more than $1 billion in property damage. These statistics are compounded by the annually reported 13,000 cases of Lyme disease, a disease transmitted by ticks hosted by white-tailed deer. While it may seem more of a costly nuisance on an individual level, it is estimated that residential landscape damage done by deer may exceed $250 million. Excessive deer densities are also known to cause long-term damage to wildlife habitats, even completely wiping out entire native plant species. As deer populations deplete available resources, herd health declines, and deer weaken and die-off, particularly in times of drought as is common in our area.

There is no doubt that white-tailed deer are an icon of our Central Texas landscape. For any of us who have watched a majestic buck leap a barbed-wire fence, or have seen a wobbly fawn lovingly nuzzled by its mother, their emotional value can never be discounted. But contrast that scene with a dead deer and a crumpled vehicle as a result of a human mother on her way back to her suburban home after picking up her kids at school. In a perfect world of balance, these deer would be roaming an untamed Hill Country, their populations naturally controlled by predators such as wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, and other natural population checks, but that is not today's suburban reality. At Plateau, we have a deep appreciation and respect for our native Texas wildlife, which is why we take deer counts and resulting recommendations very seriously. Those cities and towns that address the issue of deer overpopulation are doing what is best for all of its residents -- human and deer.

Statistics via Texas Parks and Wildlife. For more information, see http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_1197.pdf.

Deer surveys, including spotlight and camera surveys are in full swing at Plateau. Are you successfully managing your deer? Hunting season is just around the corner, so please contact us today if you are interested in learning more about our deer survey services.

Article photo: The white-tailed deer is an icon of the Central Texas landscape and its numbers must be managed in the best interest of human and deer. Photo by Lee Kothman.

PLATEAU AT RAINWATER REVIVAL IN DRIPPING SPRINGS ON SATURDAY

2010-10-08T10:29:00.001-05:00

Plateau will be flooding the Rainwater Revival with information and more on Saturday. The inaugural event, being held in Dripping Springs at Roger Hanks Park (on Hwy 290 about 1 mile west of 290 and RR 12), will feature Plateau's Kasey Mock speaking on "Water For Wildlife". Kasey and Steve Parker will also be holding court at the Plateau booth where you can learn more about water for wildlife and all of Plateau's services. Also, our resident watercolor artist, Director of Administration Janine Gwaltney, is kindly volunteering her time to work with kids at the Raindrop Stop where they will be able to express their creativity with (rain)watercolor painting. The event is from 10am - 5pm and will also feature a fantastic roster of other speakers as well as eco-shopping, and live music by The Derailers, Bob Livingston's Cowboys & Indians, and kid favorite Joe McDermott. For more information, including the day's schedule, visit RainwaterRevival.com.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR DREAM RANCH -- BEFORE YOUR BUY IT!

2010-09-21T16:52:00.002-05:00

By Craig Bowen, Plateau Business Development Coordinator

The decision to purchase your very own piece of Texas can be one of the most exciting times in your life, and also one of the most daunting. A real estate investment is the most significant purchase ever made for most people, but often the decision is made with too many unanswered questions. What is the land really worth? How do I know if it will fit my goals? Will it appreciate in value, or should I not rely on it as an investment? Can I really manage a property of this size, type, location, etc.? These are all questions that need to be asked (and answered) before you purchase a property. While current landowners also need to be diligent in finding these answers about their existing assets, for now, we'll discuss the top 10 things rural real estate experts should tell you to keep in mind before you sign a contract.

1) Location, Location, Location! - This old real estate mantra is true, but do not make the mistake of only considering how close the property is to where you live, work, or play. While a country getaway may be your primary objective, being close to a town of some size may be of some importance in case you require medical attention, additional supplies, or a contractor to complete a job on the ranch (take heart, though, most Texas properties are within 50 miles of an adequate settlement). Also, how close is the property to the nearest Interstate or train track? Road and train noise can travel up to two miles, so while it may be convenient to have Interstate frontage, consider how much noise pollution buffer you prefer.

2) Property Tax Valuation - Whether or not the property has a current Agricultural Valuation ("exemption") under the 1-d-1 section of the Texas Tax Code can be a deal-breaker. Taxes on a property valued under Fair Market appraisal can be as much as 5,000% higher than if that same property enjoyed an Ag or Wildlife Valuation. If the property does not have a current Ag or Wildlife Valuation, talk to the Central Appraisal District in that county to discuss your options for obtaining one, and how that will affect your purchase decision.

3) Mineral Rights - Are the mineral rights conveyed with the property? They often offer more immediate value and investment interest than the land itself! If the rights can be conveyed, make sure an attorney (not just your broker) checks all the documents related to the conveyance. If not, did the current owner agree to sign a surface waiver? If not, the property may still be explored, drilled or mined, or built on to access, store, or produce oil, gas, and other minerals after you purchase it even though the ownership has changed.

4) Habitat vs. Goals - Why are you buying this property? If it is to generate income, your operation will dictate the management of the property, and you probably already have some knowledge therein. However, if it is for recreational use, you must consider what secondary land uses fit your needs. Land, just like a house, yard, or building, must be managed for it to remain useful to its owner. Consider the property's eco-region, how much rainfall it gets annually (forget "average rainfall", and look at actual data from the last decade), and reflect on how you will manage the grass, brush, and water on the property so it remains in good condition. Will you graze or burn the property to keep the grasses in check? Will you need to conduct brush work every year to control juniper (cedar) or mesquite? Are there erosion control issues on the property that will have to be monitored? All these questions and more may fit well into an agriculture or wildlife management plan, which may also fit into your long-term property tax goals.

5) Size and Shape - How large are the properties you are considering buying? Usually this is dictated by goals and budget. If income generation (a hunting or cattle operation, eco-tourism ranch, winery, orchard, etc) is your ultimate goal, because bigger may be better for you, what can you afford? If recreation is the main goal, properties as small as 20 acres may be considered, especially if they have trails, large property neighbors, live water or ponds, etc. Also, consider properties with high surface area to perimeter ratios - properties relatively "square-shaped" will yield the least amount of fence to maintain, the least boundary shared with neighbors, and they are usually the easiest to manage in terms of habitat (water dispersion, brush control, etc.).

6) Access - No matter the quality of the property or how well it fits your goals, if you can't get to it or drive on it once you're there, it is useless. If the property falls in an area of high rainfall, or one that is prone to flooding regardless of the annual rainfall totals, are the roads conducive to wet-weather travel? If not, is there material on-site or nearby that can be used to remedy the situation? Also, don't forget to check the rural road conditions leading to and from the property. Is there a bridge that is too short or narrow to allow access with your RV, if applicable? Are those roads tolerable under normal conditions?

7) Flood Plains - Flood plains are low-lying areas which drain water from contiguous land. They generally occur adjacent to a major river or creek, and formally come in 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year varieties. Statistically, a 100-year flood plain will flood once every hundred years, or, more simply, there is a 1% chance each year enough rain will fall in one or a continuous series of events to inundate that particular flood plain. These areas are often the most highly productive areas in terms of grass, forb, and browse species in any given area, and are invaluable to the wildlife manager. However, many insurance companies often will not insure structures within even a 100-year flood plain. How close is the nearest 100-year floodplain, and how does it affect your prospective purchase(s)?

8) Neighbors - In his poem "Mending Wall," Robert Frost's character says "Good fences make good neighbors." Frost wanted a closer relationship with his stand-offish neighbor, and that is certainly the mindset you should have buying a property. Rural neighbors can help you watch your property when you're not around, give you advice on land management in the area, introduce you to valuable resources in the surrounding area, and become lifelong friends. Have you checked to see how they use their land, if their goals are similar to yours, and if you have similar interests otherwise? Though obviously not required, neighbors with comparable ambitions, personalities, and attitudes are definitely a bonus.

9) Endangered Species - There is no denying human use is affecting species all around us. Fragmentation and overpopulation in certain areas is diminishing habitat for a few once common species in Texas. If habitat exists on your prospective property for golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, red-cockaded woodpecker, Houston toad, certain salamanders, and others, it may affect your land use options -- but don't discount these properties, because Federal funds may be available to preserve this irreplaceable habitat. Check with a Plateau biologist about endangered species habitat or occurrence on your prospect tracts.

10) Past Use - What has the property historically been used for? The biggest concern here is old petroleum storage sites. If the area was high in petroleum usage before strict requirements were put in place, dilapidated storage containers may have leaked oil and chemicals into the ground, affecting plants, animals, and sub-surface water. Also, areas where saltwater from wells was pumped onto the ground instead of hauled off in trucks may still be barren. Both of these types of sites are usually evident upon casual inspection.

While for many landowners it is their heart and not their head that ultimately affects their property purchase decision, keeping in mind these considerations could save some heartache down the road.

THE ROBERT REDFORD OF RAPTORS: THE RED-TAILED HAWK

2010-09-21T16:51:00.000-05:00

Familiar to most wildlife enthusiasts, the beautiful Red-tailed Hawk is North America's most common hawk. At 1.5 to 4.4 pounds, "red tails" are quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a relatively short, wide tail. While plumage variations are found in the six North American subspecies, and between juvenile and adult, most are rich brown above, and pale below.

Like many raptors, red-tails are sexually dimorphic, a fancy way of saying that there are differences between male and female of the same species. For red-tails, the dimorphism applies to size. Like Katie Holmes in heels standing next to Tom Cruise, female red-tails are up to 25% larger.

Preferring to hunt in open areas, red-tails can often be seen perching on electric poles or fence lines, when not soaring in high, wide circles. As city dwellers well know, these hawks have no problem adjusting to urban habitats.

These raptors are monogamous and may mate for life. Behavior during the breeding season involves highflying acrobatics with deep dives and steep climbs. Males will sometimes grasp female talons during flight, resulting in a brief tumbling period.

One of the most recognizable sounds in the outdoors is the 2-3 second loud "kee-eeee-ar!" cry of the red-tail, usually given while soaring. This distinct vocalization is a favorite of movie makers and is commonly inserted into films anytime birds are shown -- even if they aren't Red-tailed Hawks!

Article photo: The distinctive “kee-eeee-ar!” cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is commonly used in movies even when the bird shown isn’t a red-tail!

WILD FOOD: JUNIPER BERRIES

2010-09-21T16:48:00.001-05:00

Dried juniper berries are a classic spice for venison recipes, but are they the same as or similar to the berries found on our local Ashe juniper (cedar)? Can the juniper berries populating the cedar on our Central Texas property be used just like the dried juniper berries in that bottle of Morton & Bassett in the back of our pantry?

Yes!

As the berries found on our Ashe juniper have begun to ripen and, depending on the tree, will continue to do so between now and January, we thought it timely to ask Plateau co-founder Beyrl Armstrong how he uses our local juniper berries. Why ask him? Beyrl was raised in Hawaii and Indonesia and, in previous incarnations, has worked as shrimper, a sailboat captain, restaurant manager, and hatter's helper. He has also traveled around the world and sailed across the Gulf of Mexico seven times. With that sort of life we figured he would have a thought or two on juniper berries.

We were right!

According to Beyrl, he collects the berries when they are plump and ripe (the juice will be sweet to the taste when the fruit is squeezed). He spreads the berries on a cookie sheet so they aren't touching, and dries them in a gas oven by pilot light heat which typically takes a couple of days. He has successfully stored them for years in a sealed bottle kept in his spice cabinet. He crushes or grinds them in a pepper mill (used only for juniper berries) and puts them his venison marinade. He also uses them to flavor German style pork pot roast and German sweet cabbage salad (along with caraway seed). Beyrl notes that if you have heard tasted a martini, then you have tasted juniper berries. One of the principle flavoring agents (called botanicals) of gin is juniper. The word "gin" comes from the Dutch word Jenever or the French word Genievre, depending on who you believe. Beyrl also notes that the tender fresh ends of juniper branches (leaf on) are used to flavor pickled fish and for smoking oily fish such as salmon.

Article photo: A “spice tree” in our own backyard. Photo of Ashe juniper berries by Micah McCain via DSBabble.com.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: FALL AND WILDLIFE

2010-09-21T16:45:00.000-05:00

In some parts of Texas, nearly half of the bird species are found only during cooler months, which is why we offer the Wintering and Resident Bird Survey beginning the first of November. Designed to complement our Spring Breeding Bird Census (BBC), the winter survey provides valuable information on bird population dynamics. This is a great opportunity to learn which birds are utilizing your property during the winter months. Additionally, you can use the information to identify important wintering habitats, track population trends, and create management plans for year-round use. And, like our spring survey, the Wintering and Resident Bird Survey is a qualifying activity for your wildlife valuation. As always, our surveys are conducted by an experienced birder and, of course, the landowner is invited to come along. It is also a unique opportunity to show off your property and native wildlife -- a fun, informative, and activity-qualifying tour of your property before the football game. If you have not already done so, contact Plateau today to schedule your survey.

Fall is also prime time for the following activities:
• Conducting brush management before wintering birds arrive.
• A consulting site visit by a Plateau biologist to ensure wildlife management activities are on track for the year. Fellow landowners have had our biologists tour their property with family and friends so everyone can learn more about their land, from its unique plants to unexpected wildlife habitats. A fun fall family activity!
• Prickly pear chemical control is still underway.
• Deer surveys, including spotlight and camera surveys.
• Installation of turkey feeders and wildlife rainwater collection systems.

In the summer issue of Seasons, we suggested that you pull out your wildlife management plan and assess your progress. If barbecuing on the grill or floating down a lazy river took summer precedence, definitely take a moment now 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 2010 column for the activities you are responsible for this year. How many of your wildlife management activities have you completed for 2010? 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, such as the ones listed above, are season specific.

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

Article photo: Photo of a Spotted Towhee by Lee Kothmann. Winter populations of this shy little bird are found in Texas.

A DIFFERENT SORT OF TRILL: THE HYLA VERSICOLOR OR THE COLOR CHANGING TREEFROG

2010-09-21T16:42:00.000-05:00

By Romey Swanson, Plateau Products and Services Field Biologist

While most nature lovers intently scan the trees for signs of nests and trilling birds, the herpetologists among us are looking for something less feathery, but no less interesting. The gray treefrog, Hyla versicolor, makes its home in the eastern Edwards Plateau herpetofauna (collective name for reptiles and amphibians). These treefrogs typify the classic "treefrog" body type with a tapered waist, long legs, and sticky toe pads. They can be identified visually by a robust and warty appearance, bright yellow skin hidden within the armpit and groin, and a conspicuous light spot below each eye. Although variable, the majority of these frogs will have a pronounced marbled appearance, but don't look for a standard base color because, much like the chameleons, gray treefrogs possess the distinct ability to change colors from off-white to slate gray to dark green and every color in between to serve as camouflage and reduce the risk of predation.Gray treefrogs can also be identified audibly by there unique frog call (much like species specific birdsongs). When calling for mates, males produce a short yet explosive trill. Although considered arboreal (lives in trees), treefrogs can be found closer to the ground during the breeding season (early spring to mid-summer). They prefer shaded woodlands with semi-permanent or vernal water sources. It is this habitat preference that often attracts gray treefrogs to the sides of houses and potted plants of well watered neighborhoods within Central Texas woodlands.

Article photo: The Hyla versicolor possesses the distinct ability to change colors from off-white to slate gray to dark green and every color in between.

THEY SAY IT CAN'T BE DONE (OR QUAIL ON A SMALLER SCALE)

2010-09-21T16:40:00.000-05:00

By Tim Milligan, Business Development Coordinator

Each night lately my mysterious little neighbors can be heard nearby, carrying on somewhere deep in the trees. My kids swear they talk to them and they answer back. I don't argue the plausibility as I wonder if this nightly conversation is what keeps them near our family home. Over the years, others have been here and moved on, but this group seems to have found its place and has no desire to leave -- an achievement many said couldn't be done.

Because I train and handle bird dogs, a sport that requires constant access to quail, I've had the good fortune of learning a great deal about what the fickle little game birds need to survive and thrive. And because I work at Plateau as a Business Development Coordinator, I have the advantage of working with biologists who know what it takes to successfully manage quail. Ten years back, when we first moved into our little house on a few acres, there were no quail. The fact that they're here now, and in no hurry to leave, speaks volumes about what can be done with a minimum of effort, applied on a consistent basis, toward a specific goal.

My quail management began as a by-product of my dog handling. To train the dogs, I would bring birds home, release them, and they would stick around for a while. These birds were soon seen all over the development where my family lives, walking across the street, hanging out by the creek, and even in the neighbor's chicken coops. They could be heard calling for a period of time, but soon moved on. It was a gradual process, but the thought sparked that we could change things around here to help these birds make a decision to stay longer and longer until they finally called our place home. Over the last four or five years, much to my wife's chagrin, I have been grooming this place to be so attractive to quail that they would not want to leave. Nothing I have done is all that extraordinary or complex, and while any vestiges of "traditional" lawn care have flown out the window, as long as the quail keep calling I get by with the "it's habitat!" excuse. My small scale success dispels the myth that you can only manage for quail on a large property. Some say you need 1,000 acres or more. My quail and I disagree. If you want quail on your property, with patience and persistence, it can be done. Oh, and it helps to think like a quail.

Thinking like a quail
Despite being 6'3" and featherless, I looked at my yard and the area around my house as though I were six inches tall, have tiny legs, and want to stay on the ground more than fly. I kept in mind that everything else out there wants to eat me. I considered that in order to call this place home, I require that my habitat needs be met in this small area. I need cover overhead from avian predators, and woody cover with ample shade to stay cool all day while loafing or rearing young. There needs to be lots of food available like seed bearing grasses and forbs, as well as freshly disturbed ground where new green growth emerges and attracts bugs of all types for me and my young to feast on. The grasses can't be too thick since my legs are so small and I rely on my feet to escape predators. All of this must be within easy reach of dense cover in case someone decides to interrupt my meal. If I'm to reproduce in the area, there needs to be lots of bunch grasses like little bluestem so I have a place to make a nest. Brush piles offer protection so they wouldn't be burned right away. Everything should be done to create a new edge, a place where one habitat type meets another. When emerging from a wooded area, I would walk out into a shrub layer, then into a stretch of tall native grasses, and next to a freshly plowed strip full of food. In those four edges, I have escape cover, loafing/rearing cover, nesting area, and food all within easy reach. If a property has many areas that contain all of these types of habitat, I like what I'm seeing! Finally, I recognized that none of this happens overnight, so it needs to be done for me year after year to prove this landowner is serious about having me around before I commit to raising my family here.

Being consistent in variety
While thinking like a quail was the first step, staying consistent in my human efforts has been the ultimate key to success. Although there is no one single answer to establishing quail habitat or improving populations, as quail require a variety of habitat types and conditions, I have consistently worked on creating that variety. I consistently consider -- and implement -- what quail need for food, protection, and comfort. And I've stayed consistent in my efforts for close to five years. For those who remember a time in Central Texas when the sound of a bobwhite was not a rare thing -- a time when you, your grandpa, and the dogs could flush dozens of coveys a day -- it's important to remember that the quail didn't leave overnight and their return will take time and patience. While many point to the fire ant and other predators as the reason for the quail's demise, the reality is it has been loss of habitat. It's up to us, whether we live on three thousand, three hundred, or three acres to apply our best efforts, and patiently so, if we want the quail to return and stay. My goal began as, and remains, first, to make it possible for more birds to survive from year to year and, second, to make it happen here. I don't want the quail talking to the neighbor's kids, I want them talking to mine.

THE NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE

2010-09-21T16:38:00.002-05:00

By Mark Gray, Plateau Senior Wildlife Biologist

Any hound a porcupine nudges
Can't be blamed for harboring grudges.
I know one hound that laughed all winter
At a porcupine that sat on a splinter.
-- Ogden Nash (The Porcupine)

Unless you are the owner of a pet who has had a run-in with a porcupine, you probably did not know that porcupines are found throughout much of the western half of Texas, and especially in the Hill Country. The North American porcupine is the second largest rodent occurring within Texas, weighing between 20-30 lbs. This fall-breeder is mainly a herbivore, with most of its diet derived from grazing herbaceous plants or browsing woody material. Like a football fan watching a close game with a bag of potato chips, porcupines love their salt. Indeed, with its higher concentration of salt, tree bark is a major portion of its diet during fall months. Porcupines are known to chew and devour plywood because the wood has been treated with chemicals containing salts. They are attracted to roadways sprinkled with salt, canoe paddles that have been handled frequently and contain salt residue, park benches, and even old garden tools. For those with a porcupine problem, placing salt blocks away from structures made of plywood and favored bark trees may help prevent and control damage.

Porcupines spend much of the daytime within secretive dens in rock crevices, under rock ledges, and hollow trees. They have even been seen denning within large, well-constructed brush piles. They are mainly nocturnal and do not hibernate. Because they breed in the fall, they are slightly more visible during this season. Characterized by a series of long spines scattered throughout their body, these spines are used as a specialized defense mechanism. Contrary to popular belief, these spines, called quills, are not ejected at a challenging predator, but are easily detached when molested by the predator. Due to their exceptional defense mechanism, porcupines have evolved to lead a solitary life, which is unique to most herbivores that tend to herd or congregate together. As long as you or your pet stays a safe distance, seeing this reclusive mammal is a treat.

Article photo: The North American Porcupine is the second largest rodent occurring within Texas.

ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE: STRATEGIC PLANNING (OR BEYOND THE VALUATION AND THE BRUSH PILE)

2010-09-21T16:35:00.000-05:00

By Kameron Bain, Plateau Business Development

For the summer issue of Seasons, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management pulled me away from my desk for one day and bravely tossed me into the world of brush management. Working with our fantastic team of field technicians, and benefiting greatly from the remarkable patience of Plateau Ecologist Eric Wallgren, I came away from the experience a bit scratched up but infinitely wiser as to how Plateau takes the scientific knowledge of our biologists and their recommendations to practical, on the ground application. As the field techs haven't been clamoring for a return of my cedar dragging skills, I was presented a new chance to learn more about Plateau's services away from my desk. I was given the opportunity to be a part of the creation of a Texas ranch family's strategic plan for their land - certainly one of the most exciting of my Plateau adventures, and infinitely less scratchy.

For more then 10 years, Plateau has been known as experts in wildlife management valuation. It is safe to say that making the switch from agriculture to wildlife is why many people know of us. Most of my conversations about Plateau during my three-year tenure at the company have revolved around how to make the switch to wildlife management valuation, or the wildlife management valuation process, or the yearly activities required to keep wildlife management valuations current. My new adventure, however, allowed me to witness the full impact of wildlife management valuation from tax benefits to land benefits and, ultimately, to landowner enjoyment.

Over the past month, I had the privilege of working with a Plateau team of sales and biologists assisting a Hill Country family create a strategic plan to protect and enhance their land for future generations. Having owned several thousand acres of property over several generations, this family holds near and dear its Texas land legacy. As I listened to various family members speak about their land, their love for it was palpable. And for as much pride as they took in the land itself, an equal amount was given to the fact that they had kept the land in the family for so many generations. Now, this otherwise private family wanted to share with the public the love, peace, relaxation and serenity they get from their land, while being a role model of good land stewardship and conservation for other Texas ranch families. To successfully reach these goals and their dreams for the future, smart, strategic planning was needed.

Enter Plateau.

Building a strategic plan is a daunting task, especially when it involves family, family dynamics, and the land that owns heart and soul. It is an intricate process involving discussion, debate, research and a whole lot of mind power. Most people do not even know where to begin. This is where Plateau was able to help by taking the family step by step through the process, leading the family through much needed discussion and debate. The Plateau team has a carefully considered and crafted set of questions to discover ultimate vision, mission, values, and goals as well as the bottom line budget -- vitally crucial steps that are often missed. Plateau also reviews the history and resources of the land, where the family is now, and where they want to go to help direct the family in reaching their ultimate goals. Listening to the discussions, debates, arguments, and agreements was eye-opening, bringing this "client file" to vivid reality for me.

As I listened and learned, it was clear that one of the most important goals to come out of this often emotional process is to determine exactly what the family wants to achieve with their land - what enterprise do they really want to pursue? Like most families, financial security is a main concern. In the process, this particular family learned that their piece of paradise had a lot to offer and, if done well, could keep the family secure for years to come. During the two in-person meetings with the family, they were able to better grasp what enterprises excited them and fit within their goals. Initially begun with trepidation, the planning sessions helped relieve fears and bring excitement to the family when considering the opportunities ahead.

I found myself excited as well. Excited and surprised by how inspirational and insightful it was working directly with a family that valued their land and respected it for its beauty and legacy, how they genuinely wanted to share that love for the land with other people. It was uplifting to hear how the family not only wanted to protect their proud family legacy and provide for future generations, but to also be a symbol of conservation.

I very much appreciate Plateau allowing me to play a part in the future of this special Texas land. And if the team needs me to drag cedar to bring that family's vision to reality, just point me to the brush pile.

RAINWATER REVIVAL POURS INTO DRIPPING SPRINGS ON OCTOBER 9

2010-09-21T16:32:00.000-05:00

From the seven hills of ancient Rome to today's Texas Hill Country, rainwater collection has spanned the globe and the ages. To celebrate this timeless conservation practice, rainwater collection professionals and enthusiasts will converge just outside of Austin in Dripping Springs, Texas on Saturday, October 9, 2010 for the Rainwater Revival. The festive day will be filled with informative and entertaining presentations by a stellar line-up of conservation professionals including Plateau's own Kasey Mock. The day will also include shopping, kids' crafts - such as a watercolor station where Plateau's resident watercolor artist and Director of Administration Janine Gwaltney will be volunteering - and live music featuring The Derailers, Bob Livingston's Cowboys & Indians, and kids’ favorite Joe McDermott. The event will be held from 10am - 5pm at Roger Hanks Park. Free admission. For more information, including complete speaker line-up and directions, visit RainwaterRevival.com.

Plateau professionals will also be appearing at other events in the coming weeks. For the most current list of dates and places,visit plateauwildlife.com/seminars.html.

Wildlife love rainwater harvesting, too! Plateau carries two sizes of wildlife rainwater collection systems, both of which fulfill a 10-year credit for a wildlife management activity! Learn more about the Plateau Water Table 305 and Plateau Water Table 55 on plateauwildlife.com.

Article photo: Rainwater collection tanks have become a common sight in Central Texas. For information on how Plateau can help you maximize rainwater's potential on your property, contact John Melnar with Plateau Plus (plateauplus.com). Photo by Melanie Cambron.

THIS IS FOR THE BIRDS: PAINTED BUNTINGS

2010-08-24T14:39:00.001-05:00

The Bandera County Courier has been running a series of bird articles by Plateau. For those not in the Bandera area and reading the paper with a cup of coffee at OST, here is our latest...

Painted Bunting. Photograph copyright Lee Kothmann.

Occasionally mistaken as escaped tropical pets, Painted Buntings are certainly the most colorful (the gaudiest?) birds found within our region. Males are characterized by a vibrant red belly and chest, vivid blue head with red eye-rings, and chartreuse back. A bit like seeing a tiny, feathered Carmen Miranda perched in a tree, these birds, not surprisingly, are highly sought after by visiting birdwatchers. Though not as elaborately hued as males, the bright lime-green female buntings are also quite comely. Although often difficult to visually locate, Painted Buntings are easily identified by their beautiful song vocalized atop a high perch. A member of the family Cardinalidae, which also contains cardinals, grosbeaks, buntings, and tanagers, Painted Buntings are common breeding birds throughout the Hill Country. Winters are spent in southern Florida, Mexico, and throughout parts of Central and South America. Painted Buntings typically nest within dense, brushy habitats and even have been found nesting within juniper. For landowners hoping to attract these birds, it is very important to maintain understory vegetation, especially low-lying brush, to provide cover and nesting areas. Painted Buntings rely heavily on seed-eating during the fall and winter, and in the spring and summer months switch their diet to include insects and spiders. Like Hollywood celebrities spotted at grocery stores, these showy avian stars occasionally use bird feeders, so you should consider yourself lucky if you have been able to attract buntings to your feeders.

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management provides services and products for rural landowners throughout the Texas Hill Country and beyond. For more information, visit www.PlateauWildlife.com.

FIRST SEMINAR OF THE SEASON IN KERRVILLE ON THURSDAY

2010-08-18T12:52:00.002-05:00

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT VALUATION ("Wildlife Exemption") SEMINAR
YO Ranch Resort
6-8 PM
2033 Sidney Baker
Kerrville, Texas
TO RSVP contact Kameron at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com

MEET THE TEAM!

2010-07-29T09:39:00.000-05:00

New staff page with bios now online. Who are the people behind Plateau? Meet the team on our new staff page here.

TWA LANDOWNER WORKSHOP & MEMBERSHIP EVENT

2010-07-27T11:30:00.003-05:00

Plateau's Kasey Mock

The Texas Wildlife Association will hold a landowner workshop at the Freeman Ranch on September 2, 2010 from 1:30 - 5:00. This event will be focused on wildlife management on smaller acreage and will give landowners usable ideas for their property. Plateau's own Kasey Mock will be one of the featured speakers. The event is free to the public and anyone who is interested in wildlife management is welcome to attend.

The educational program will be immediately followed by a Texas Wildlife Association membership social where attendees will have a chance to network with other landowners, managers, and wildlife enthusiasts.

For more information, visit the TWA website at texas-wildlife.org or contact Justin Dreibelbis at jdreibelbis@texas-wildlife.org

TEXAS WILDLIFE SHORT COURSE AUGUST 20-21

2010-07-22T14:21:00.004-05:00

Texas is getting ready for hunting season with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s first ever Texas Wildlife Short Course August 20-21, 2010 at the Brazos County Exposition Center and Plateau's Senior Wildlife Biologist Shane Kiefer will be one of the special speakers.

The Texas Wildlife Short Course is designed for both new and seasoned sportsmen alike, providing up-to-date information on various aspects of wildlife management. Educational topics covering white-tailed deer management, the use of infrared cameras for scouting, and what forages to plant for deer and doves will be discussed. Feral hog and farm pond management, and marketing wildlife on your piece of Texas will also be covered. A special session will be devoted to managing wildlife for the 1-d-1 Open Space Lands tax valuation. Special speakers will include Bob Zaiglin, well-known white-tailed deer biologist and Department Chair Wildlife Management Southwest Texas Junior College, Clayton Wolf, Wildlife Division Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Ben Koerth, white-tailed deer biologist from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Jon Hayes, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Shane Kiefer, Plateau Land and Wildlife Management. Other noted speakers will include Jim Cathey, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Larry Redmon, Extension Forage Specialist, Miles Phillips, Extension Nature Tourism Specialist, and Michael Masser, Extension Fisheries Specialist. Three continuing education units will be provided.

Admission to The Texas Wildlife Short Course is $75 and included with the price are 1 catered meal (Friday lunch), vendor displays, and a chance to see some of the best deer taken during last year’s hunting season. There will also be exclusive activities designed for children.

Following the conclusion of the Texas Wildlife Short Course, the Texas Wildlife Association’s Regions 5, 6, 7 (Post Oak Savannah, Pineywoods, and Coastal Prairies) will be holding the annual Texas Big Game Awards Sportsmen’s Celebration. The Texas Big Game Awards Sportsmen’s Celebration will begin Saturday August 21 with their awards luncheon at 1:00 pm followed by the awards presentation.

To register for the Texas Wildlife Short Course go to the Texas AgriLife Extension Conference Services’ web-site at https://agrilifevents.tamu.edu. For more information regarding this inaugural event, please contact Ms. Kristi Smith @ 979-845-7471 or email her at kjsmith@ag.tamu.edu. For more information on the Texas Big Game Awards Sportsmen’s Celebration visit TexasBigGameAwards.com.

OAK WILT: FACT AND FICTION

2010-06-24T08:03:00.006-05:00

By Shane Kiefer, Senior Wildlife Biologist, San Antonio Region

Oak wilt is a very real and very important concern among Texas landowners. Oak wilt, caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, is one of the most destructive tree diseases in the United States. The bad news is that it occurs in over 60 Texas counties and will never completely disappear. The good news is that with some basic knowledge about how and why oak wilt spreads, you can take steps to help prevent infections on your land.

The oak wilt fungus kills by clogging the water conducting system of the tree. All oaks are susceptible to oak wilt, but white oaks, such as post, bur, and chinkapin oaks are very resistant to the disease. Red oaks such as Texas, pin, and blackjack oaks are extremely susceptible and often die within a few weeks of apparent symptoms. Red oaks act as breeding grounds for the fungus and serve as sources of new infections. Under the right conditions, fungal mats may form under the bark of a red oak. These mats often create cracks in the bark and emit a fruity odor. Tiny, sap-feeding Nitidulid beetles are attracted to these mats and feed on them, gathering fungal spores as they do. When the beetles find a fresh wound on another oak they feed on the sap and transmit the spores, infecting the tree. This is how new infection centers are created in live oaks.

Live oaks are probably the most obvious victims of the disease because they die in the largest numbers. This is due to the common growth habit of live oaks in which they form motts with interconnected root systems that allow the rapid spread of the fungus from tree to tree once an infection occurs. Infected trees often die within 6-12 months.

Red oaks often do not exhibit any clear symptoms. Typically, the leaves will pale and brown during an unusual time of year. The tree dies shortly thereafter. The presence of fungal mats is a reliable indicator of oak wilt in red oaks. In live oaks, veinal necrosis and veinal banding are good diagnostic indicators of oak wilt. The area around the leaf veins will darken and then turn brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. Diagnosis can be confirmed through isolation of the fungus in a laboratory.

Since the disease only spreads in two ways and new infections are only established by beetles feeding on wounded oak trees, by taking precautions you can help prevent the spread of oak wilt. Fungal mats tend to form during mild, spring-like weather, when beetles are most abundant. You should avoid pruning oaks during these times to reduce the chance of infection. Winter and summer are good times to prune your trees, while spring is the worst time for these activities, even though it may be the nicest time to work outside. No matter when you prune, you should always immediately paint your cuts or any wounds on your oak trees with pruning paint or standard latex paint. Contaminated beetles may be present at any time and painting will prevent them from feeding on the sap from fresh wounds. Tree health, age, and size have no impact on susceptibility to oak wilt so you should always paint cuts on oaks, no matter how healthy they are.

Good land stewardship is the best defense against long-term damage from diseases and the best way to ensure its beauty and function in the future despite any type of disturbance. Oak wilt is not an imported disease. It is a native fungus that has been in North America and Texas for a long time. It actually serves a purpose, much like other seemingly destructive agents such as fire. Pockets of dead trees provide foraging habitat for woodpeckers and nesting cavities for songbirds. A healthy and diverse shrub layer and a well distributed age structure in the woodlands meant that there was always something to replace oaks that succumbed to oak wilt or other diseases. Imagine the damage that could be done if the only woody plants on your property were live oaks. If you walk through the woods and see no young oaks, hackberry, cherry, or walnut, imagine how long it will take to recover if oak wilt or another natural destructive agent strikes. Controlling deer numbers to prevent damage to young oaks and other species, brush management, and encouraging diversity in your woody plants by planting native shrubs and trees other than oaks can help your land support a more diverse and resistant habitat.

Talk to your Plateau biologist about how to improve the health of your woodlands to ensure that even if disaster strikes, your land will recover and continue to provide quality wildlife habitat and enjoyment for you and your children.

Information in this article was derived from various publications of the Texas Forest Service. For more information, including pictures and diagrams see texasoakwilt.org.

THE CEO’S CORNER: BEYOND BP

2010-06-24T08:03:00.005-05:00

By David Braun

As I write, Americans are seeing nightly news images of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It is too early to tell just how extensive the environmental damage to the Gulf of Mexico will ultimately be, or even how many barrels of oil will be spilled. The worst fears for environmental catastrophe may not be realized, but most experts agree there will be significant long-term damage as a result of the spill, and that it will cost billions of dollars to clean up.

As bad as the BP spill is, I believe that our focus on the single incident misses the larger point. The Gulf of Mexico and all our waterways receive millions of small injuries on a daily basis (and have for decades) which are noticed by only a few concerned scientists and experts. Pollutants of all sorts are washing into our rivers and streams and making their way to the Gulf of Mexico every year in quantities that dwarf the daily output of the damaged oil well. Pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum products of all types, soil erosion and just plain garbage, all the byproducts of our modern lifestyle, wash off our land and streets and rooftops with every rainfall and do massive damage which goes unreported, in fact almost unnoticed, by the general public.

No matter how well we regulate the BPs of the world, we will not stop these small, independent acts of pollution until we educate and change the behavior of our whole society. The biggest challenge is to influence and change the decisions by millions of individual landowners and citizens all through the watersheds in which we live. I'm happy to say that Plateau's work with Texas landowners gives me hope that we are making real, lasting progress.

We see a trend of improved awareness and attention to stewardship emerging among the thousands of landowners we assist who are making the choice to adopt beneficial land and wildlife management practices. Every landowner who plants native grasses and restores wildlife habitat is helping to increase filtering and break down of pollutants before they reach the waterways. Every landowner who constructs a water retention feature or improves their grazing practices is helping to limit runoff of silt and waste into the ocean.

We sense an exciting growth of this trend as more and more landowners join the community of enlightened wildlife managers who seek advice from the Plateau team. As we enter our second decade of service to Texas landowners, Plateau is investing in new capacity and expanding the scope of its services, so we can help willing landowners do even more. In this edition of Seasons you will meet new members of our staff and be introduced to the new services we are offering through Plateau PLUS. It is this increasing demand from landowners that gives me hope that after the oil stops leaking we will eventually also stop the daily unintended, and ultimately more harmful, degradation of our environment.

David Braun is the CEO of Plateau Land & Wildlife Management and founder of law firm Braun & Associates.

INTRODUCING PLATEAU PLUS

2010-06-24T08:03:00.004-05:00

Plateau Land Use Services officially launches.

As part of the Plateau family, the people behind Plateau PLUS have been in the business of helping rural landowners protect and enhance their greatest asset -- their land -- since 1997. Our wildlife biologist consultants and unsurpassed field professionals set us apart from other companies. Our services, combining the aesthetic, the practical, and the ecological, are delivered by an insured team of professionals.

For more information on all of our services including brush management, water features, rainwater collection, solar installation, ranch roads, and fencing, please visit our just launched website at PlateauPlus.com.

ADVENTURES IN BRUSH MANAGEMENT

2010-06-24T08:03:00.003-05:00

Or how I dragged myself off the phone and started dragging.

By Kameron Bain

Growing up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I witnessed the magic and the majesty of nature. However, I never understood what it meant to be a true steward of the land until I came to work at Plateau. During the past three years, as a member of the Plateau team, I have been immersed in a continuing education on what it takes to be a responsible private landowner. As a member of Plateau's office staff, that education has come within the confines of a comfortable office, via biologist reports and technician tales from the trenches. But when I was promoted to the business development team, I knew I could not effectively sell Plateau's services without hands-on experience. I needed to really learn what our landowners take on throughout the year.

Because the Plateau team is definitely one of action, within the blink of an eye I found myself transported from my office chair to the cab of a pick up, and on the road to my first Plateau adventure in brush management. Truth be told, I was nervous, but on our ride to the client property, Plateau Ecologist Eric Wallgren eased my nerves by going over what to expect. Eric provided safety tips and assured me I would not get hurt. Maybe dirty, but not hurt.

As a firm believer that dressing the part helps you act the part, I was pleased that once we arrived at the property we suited up, head to toe, in protective gear. As we set off for the job site, I settled into the back of the truck where I caught sight of a deer moving through the trees. A common picture in these parts to be sure, but not an everyday occurrence in New Hampshire and, even after three years, the novelty and thrill has not warn off. As I blithely lifted my head to take in all the lovely sights and sounds of our Hill Country ...THWACK! I was whacked in the face with a low-hanging tree branch.

First lesson learned.

After smartly ducking for the remainder of our journey to the job site, next lessons leaned were the dos and don'ts of the scary monster the techs call the shredder. Not in the mood to lose any limbs, I paid close attention to the technical aspects of brush management. But, perhaps more importantly, I learned Plateau's ecological approach to brush management. Plateau strives to not only enhance the beauty of the land, but also improve the habitat. Whether it be straight logs for erosion control or converting all remaining branches to mulch, nothing cut down is wasted.

When the official work began, it finally sank in that I was actually about to do this! With all engines running, the tech team dove into doing what they do best -- working hard. I was impressed with the seamless work style of the tech team. Everyone stepped into a task that needed to be filled without debate or discussion. They worked the shredder and chainsaws like it was second nature and they truly made the job seem effortless.

Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all!

I quickly decided the best task for me to take on was dragging the brush piles to the shredder. While this appeared to be the least complicated job, I soon learned it was in no way easy. The brush piles and I had many battles royal throughout the day, and I had the scratches and bruises to prove it. Although at times it took all my might, I felt quite strong and victorious when I could find that one branch that would allow me to drag the entire pile to the shredder.

During the first hour I felt good, and remember thinking "Hey, this is really isn't that bad. I can do this." Then, as the hours passed and the sun grew stronger, my drags downgraded from smaller loads to smallish branches to throwing twigs. I ended the day by kicking the brush around with my feet. I was exhausted, dirty, sweaty, and beat-up. To this very day, I do not know how our tech team does this day in and day out. I always knew they worked hard, but I now had a first hand experience and profound appreciation for what they do for Plateau and landowners.

Finally, my work was done. This was certainly the hardest physical labor I had experienced in the past decade. But I was truly rewarded when I looked behind me and saw what a difference we made in just one day. The trail we created made this piece of the property look more open, beautiful, and, after tangling with brush all day, more free. I thought about how our client landowner would enjoy his property more because he could actually walk about and enjoy the sounds of the stream we had uncovered.

Thank you to Steve, Eric, Romey, and Jake for their patience, their knowledge, and their graciousness in letting me work side by side with them. Not only were they doing their job, and doing it well, but they were helping and watching out for me all day. Their expertise, skill, and work ethic are inspiring. I am truly honored to be on the same team with all of them.

Until my next Plateau adventure, have a great summer!

Kameron Bain grew up in Conway, New Hampshire nestled in the heart of the Mount Washington Valley. She graduated from Quinnipiac University in Hamdon, Connecticut in 2002 with a BA in Mass Communications. Tired of the cold, six years ago she decided to move to the warmth and Texas. She joined the team at Plateau Land & Wildlife Management three years ago as the receptionist. Today, she works on the Business Development team focusing on what she loves best, helping clients.

For more information, on Plateau's brush management services (Kameron not included), contact us today!

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: SUMMER AND WILDLIFE

2010-06-24T08:03:00.002-05:00

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 2010? 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 2010 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 now through July and August.
Starting deer surveys, including spotlight and camera surveys. Plateau can also assist with MLDP paperwork filings (due August 15).
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).
Assuming the rains continue, this fall will be an excellent time to reseed native warm season grasses.

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

INTRODUCING KASEY MOCK

2010-06-24T08:03:00.000-05:00

Kasey Mock has joined the Plateau Land & Wildlife Management team as Business Development Coordinator. The addition of Kasey, who joins Plateau from Texas Agrilife Extension Service, further expands the company's roster of seasoned land and wildlife management professionals. Kasey's tenure as an Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, as well as his personal involvement in local organizations including the Independent Cattleman's Association, Hays County Livestock Show Association, Cypress Creek Watershed Project, and Hill Country Alliance, brings a depth and diversity of knowledge to Plateau.

"To date, Plateau has brought close to 2,000 clients and a half-million acres of Texas land into wildlife management, but we also work with landowners seeking a balance between wildlife and agriculture," said Ken Thigpen, Director of Sales and Marketing. "Kasey's work and personal history exemplify that balance, and we could not be more pleased to welcome him to the team. His addition will not only be an asset to Plateau, but to Texas rural landowners as well."

Welcome aboard, Kasey!