The Texas horned lizard (THL. Phrynosoma cornutum) has been in decline throughout much of Texas. Declines have primarily been attributed to habitat loss, introduction of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), environmental contaminants, and other factors that merit further study. Due to an overwhelming interest in reintroducing THL, researchers translocated 15 lizards from private property in Irion County to the Muse Wildlife Management Area (MWMA) in northeastern Brown County to evaluate the feasibility and success of reintroduction efforts. The lizards were released via soft release methods into a portion of the MWMA where habitat improvements had been made and where soils, vegetation, and density of red-harvester ants appeared appropriate to support THL. Each lizard was fitted with a 1.5 g backpack-style VHF radiotelemetry transmitter and was tracked daily from 12 June 2014-28 October 2014, at which time all remaining lizards were hibernating. Location data were collected to evaluate habitat use, home range size, dispersal distance, and causes of mortality. Eight lizards were tracked ? 30 days and 6 lizards survived until hibernation. Data analyses are still in progress; however, minimum convex polygons indicate home ranges varied from 63-392,266 m2 and dispersal distance ranged from 40-761 m. Researchers observed the majority of locations within 5 m of woody brush; however, habitat use analyses have not been conducted. Researchers observed mating behavior occurring in the research enclosure prior to release; 2 nests were later established. One nest containing 19 eggs was unsuccessful; however, the other nest hatched 21 eggs. Three hatchlings were observed during tracking operations on 16 September 2014. During 2015, researchers released 43 additional THL and emphasis will be placed on collecting habitat use and survivability information. Such data will help evaluate the feasibility of restoring THL populations back to areas they once existed.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.