Wildlife and Man in Texas

Wildlife and Man in Texas
Author: Robin W. Doughty
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Total Pages: 276
Release: 1983
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9780890964163

The author uses letters, journals, and travel accounts to show the early attitudes toward the uses of indigenous birds and mammals of Texas. Surviving on nature's bounty and remorselessly exterminating her threats--wolves, cougars, and other wily critters--settlers exploited Texas' pristine fecundity. Some species benefited from disturbed environments; others were unable to adjust to human presence and disappeared. By the 1880s concern about the diminishing numbers of many preferred species led to enactment of game laws and other efforts to protect and manage wildlife. Today, the author argues, habitat change is the most pressing issue confronting conservationists.

Greg Lasley’s Texas Wildlife Portraits

Greg Lasley’s Texas Wildlife Portraits
Author: Greg W. Lasley
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2008-10-23
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1603440577

Experience the wildlife of Texas, up-close and personal, through the eyes of one of the country’s most talented nature photographers. Where else can you look a coyote in the eye while it licks its chops? Spy the long tongue of a Nine-banded Armadillo as it drinks? Watch a rare Blue-faced Ringtail dragonfly eating its prey? Glimpse a Sanderling’s feet spread midair as it scurries down the beach? See an American White Pelican’s pouch turned inside-out as it yawns? Award-winning photographer Greg Lasley has been taking pictures of wildlife for thirty years, and although he has photographed some of the most exotic creatures and remote places on earth, in Greg Lasley’s Texas Wildlife Portraits he gives homage to his favorite place for photography: his home state. With more than a hundred stunning color photographs, this book reflects Lasley’s penchant for the state’s insect life, especially dragonflies, as well as his long affection for Texas birds. In addition, many hours of patient waiting or the happenstance of a chance encounter have yielded fine images of Texas mammals and reptiles in their habitats. Veteran Texas naturalists John and Gloria Tveten open the text with an introduction to the man behind the camera. From there, photographer’s comments and insightful photo captions help vividly re-create the moment each image was shot—what the animal was doing, what the photographer was thinking.

Unnatural Texas?

Unnatural Texas?
Author: Robin W. Doughty
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2019-02-14
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 162349706X

The story of introduced species in Texas is long (hogs were introduced by European settlers in the 1500s) and fraught with controversy. In Unnatural Texas? The Invasive Species Dilemma, Robin W. Doughty and Matt Warnock Turner introduce the “big hitters” of invasive species in the state. They profile the usual suspects—feral hogs, salt cedar, and fire ants—and also lesser known invasives, such as cats and sparrows. Blending natural and environmental history with geography, this book is a much-needed, balanced exploration of invasive species in Texas. The distinctions between native and invasive are not hard and fast, and perceptions of what is invasive have changed over the centuries. A striking example, free-ranging cats—domestic, stray, and feral—can wreak havoc on small mammal and bird populations. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for invasives, and removal or complete eradication may not be possible or even desirable. The dilemma of what to do about invasive species also raises moral, social, economic, and cultural questions. This engaging introduction to the concept of invasive species in Texas will provide context for readers and will educate people on this important issue facing the state.

Texas Aquatic Science

Texas Aquatic Science
Author: Rudolph A. Rosen
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Total Pages: 218
Release: 2014-12-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1623491932

This classroom resource provides clear, concise scientific information in an understandable and enjoyable way about water and aquatic life. Spanning the hydrologic cycle from rain to watersheds, aquifers to springs, rivers to estuaries, ample illustrations promote understanding of important concepts and clarify major ideas. Aquatic science is covered comprehensively, with relevant principles of chemistry, physics, geology, geography, ecology, and biology included throughout the text. Emphasizing water sustainability and conservation, the book tells us what we can do personally to conserve for the future and presents job and volunteer opportunities in the hope that some students will pursue careers in aquatic science. Texas Aquatic Science, originally developed as part of a multi-faceted education project for middle and high school students, can also be used at the college level for non-science majors, in the home-school environment, and by anyone who educates kids about nature and water. To learn more about The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, sponsors of this book's series, please click here.

Under One Fence

Under One Fence
Author: Wyman Meinzer
Publisher:
Total Pages: 180
Release: 2010-11-08
Genre: Ranch life
ISBN: 9780984063017

The thin morning fog, hanging over the sage and bluestem, obscures the trucks and trailers around the pens at Peek Trap. The sun, edging above the horizon, draws the eye from modernity toward something more durable. A whinny in the distance sharpens your focus on a band of shadow cast by a low bluff. The first few horses run into the new light, and the rest of the remuda emerges, strung out along the base of the bluff, nine dozen geldings running parallel to the horizon a quarter mile out. Another day begins. A day that has endured over a century in character. Welcome to the Waggoner Ranch.

Texas Snakes

Texas Snakes
Author: James R. Dixon
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Total Pages: 386
Release: 2005-11-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0292706758

"Field guide to all snake species in Texas with a color photo, range map, and information on identifying characteristics and behavior for each snake"--Provided by publisher.

Inspiration Texas Style

Inspiration Texas Style
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2008-10
Genre: Landscape photography
ISBN: 9780979890703

Many Texans are proud of their state. The people, the places, the ideals and hearts all come together in a magnitude of pride exhibited toward the Lone Star. For many reasons, some more obvious than others, Texas holds a special place in heart of inhabitants and visitors alike. Texas State Photographer Wyman Meinzer, is such a person, a native son, and a documentarian of what it means to be a proud Texan.

Continental Divide

Continental Divide
Author: Krista Schlyer
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Total Pages: 310
Release: 2012
Genre: History
ISBN: 1603447571

The topic of the border wall between the United States and Mexico continues to be broadly and hotly debated: on national news media, by local and state governments, and even over the dinner table. By now, broad segments of the population have heard widely varying opinions about the wall's effect on illegal immigration, international politics, and the drug war. But what about the wall's effect on animals? Krista Schlyer vividly shows us that this largely isolated natural area, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, is also host to a number of rare ecosystems.

Endangered and Threatened Animals of Texas

Endangered and Threatened Animals of Texas
Author: Linda Campbell
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Total Pages: 130
Release: 1995
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9781885696045

Called to the principal's office, Brad remembers all the tricks he has played on his classmates and wonders who has turned him in.