Outdoor Industry United in Support of Habitat

THERE ARE FEW THINGS that unite the entire outdoors industry. People have opinions and as in any trade, there are those who have ideas how things should be run and others who totally disagree.

A positive trend has emerged over the last couple of years. That has been the protection of wildlife and fisheries habitat. As outdoor user numbers have gone up tremendously since the pandemic rocked the world in 2020, conservation groups have put an even deeper focus on habitat.

Issues of hunting access and bag limits on the fishing front tend to stir up the public the most, but industry is leading on habitat issues and doing so in a big way.

The following are some prime examples of habitat initiatives that in the long run will make a massive difference for wildlife and those who love pursuing it.

Oyster Reefs

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted changes to the statewide oyster fishery proclamation. This included the closure of oyster reef areas in Ayres, Mesquite and Carlos Bays, and the temporary closure of restoration areas in Galveston Bay and San Antonio Bay.

“We applaud the Commission for their unanimous decision to protect and conserve the three bays from oyster harvest,” said Shane Bonnot, CCA Texas Advocacy Director. “Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive leadership and coastal fisheries staff are to be commended for recognizing the need to conserve these ecologically valuable oyster reefs, and it is refreshing to witness science and policy work in tandem to ensure a vibrant fishery for present and future generations.”

The three bays are characterized by a diverse network of intertidal and deep oyster reefs, expansive seagrass beds and fringing salt marsh. This provides critical nursery habitat for numerous aquatic species.

In addition to the ecosystem services provided by these reefs, the positive role oyster reefs play in this habitat mosaic cannot be overstated. The proximity of Cedar Bayou to this area, serving as migration and recruitment corridor, further justified the reason for this closure.

“Establishing networks of protected oyster reefs isn’t a new concept,” said Pat Murray, President of CCA. “We see this as a common management tool in other states to help recruit oyster spat in adjacent areas while optimizing the habitat value within the closed area. Furthermore, what we find is that protecting areas from destructive harvest practices is a more cost-effective option when compared to the cost of restoring a degraded reef.”

Elk Habitat

After more than three decades of support in the region, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners have allocated more than $1.45 million dollars over the next two years to benefit elk and elk country in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

“RMEF always has and remains deeply invested in restoring elk to their historic range and ensuring their future success,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “This two-year commitment bolsters elk populations by supplying grant funding for habitat enhancement, land conservation and access, research and wildlife management projects across the five states.”

Specific project work includes creating wildlife water sources, forest thinning, prescribed burning, invasive vegetation treatment, forage enhancement, chronic wasting disease surveillance, calf survival and genetic analysis research, and conserving two parcels for elk habitat and to improve public access for elk hunting and other recreational activities. 

Hill Country Turkey Issues

Over the years, the Edwards Plateau has recorded the highest number of Rio Grande wild turkey harvests in all of Texas according to officials with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)

Researchers and managers, however, are noticing a dip in the number of birds taken, which also coincides with some serious habitat threats, posing many questions that need answers. 

“Data suggests that Rio Grande abundance, number of hunters and number of birds harvested have dipped in recent years,” said Blake Grisham, PhD, director and associate professor of wildlife management at Texas Tech University.

“In the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion, degradation of riparian habitats has occurred and is likely associated with many factors, including changes in the frequency and magnitude of flood pulses, ungulate browsing, unmanaged grazing, lack of prescribed fire, feral pig damage and direct damage to riparian vegetation caused by large groups of invasive axis deer.”

The terms “riparian areas,” “riparian zones” or “riparian corridors” are how wildlife biologists, managers and researchers refer to those habitat-rich areas between water and land according to NWTF officials.

A new study will probe issues with these areas in relation to turkeys and other wildlife.

Enhancing Sheep Habitat With Water

The San Francisco Mountains south of the Arizona border in Sonora, MX, barely receive three inches of annual precipitation. The Wild Sheep Foundation, along with $10,000 from the Dallas Safari Club Foundation, has contributed $82,500 to drill a well to supply water to local people and provide a close and reliable water source for transport to fill water tanks for desert bighorn sheep and other desert-dwelling wildlife. Before this well, water had to be trucked daily 30 miles to supply the 78 families living in the area.

For nearly 25 years, residents have worked to conserve and re-populate desert bighorn sheep in this ejido. As a result of their program’s success, desert bighorn hunting on the ejido has expanded, as six permits were offered in 2020. Four of these permits were sold to generate money to pay for additional transplants of free-ranging desert bighorn sheep. The other two permits were sold to benefit the families and the ejido residents. Revenue from sheep hunts is/has been the primary source of income for this ejido, so the ejidotarians recognize the economic and ecologic value of healthy desert bighorn sheep populations.

Water is a major habitat issue and while little can be done about rain in areas, water guzzlers can be provided to help boost wildlife where drought is ravaging water supplies for wildlife and people.

As you can see, habitat enhancement comes in many forms. We wanted to give you a look at some cutting edge work done in Texas and around North America that has been supported by the outdoor industry in a time when more pressure is facing our resources than ever before.

—by TF&G STAFF

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