Posts Tagged ‘Texas’

Jan
13

The Houston Zoo Cares About Diamondback Terrapins, By Rachel Godambe

Posted by in Conservation,Diamondback Terrapins,Endangered Species,Uncategorized

Do you love turtles? I love Turtles! Do you want to do something to help preserve turtles and their habitat? I know I do! Houston Zoo keepers have planned an awesome turtle bonanza weekend for all you turtle lovers!! Starting Friday, January 20th the East Texas Herpetological Society is hosting a lecture by our very own Houston Zoo Keeper, Jordan Gray about the Jewel of the Salt Marsh, the Diamondback Terrapin. The Diamondback Terrapins lives exclusively in brackish water and was once hunted to the brink of extinction for use in turtle soup. Although numbers appear to have rebounded considerably, their population status along the Texas coastline is not fully known. Due to its unique requirements this species remains especially susceptible to local extinction. Potential threats to survival include habitat alteration, crab trap bycatch, boating, and other human activities. Natural disasters such as hurricanes may also negatively impact the species because of the fragile nature of its limited range. Extensive field research will lead to a better understanding of this species in Texas and offer potential strategies to ensure its continued survival. This free lecture will be at the Houston Zoo Brown Education Building. Doors open at 7:30 and enter through Gate 5. Enjoy refreshments at 7:30 pm and talk begins at 8:00 pm. Enjoy the rest of your weekend here at the Houston Zoo for the Spotlight On Species Event for the Diamondback Terrapins at the Reptile Building from 10 am to 3 pm Saturday, January 21st and Sunday, January 22nd. There will be crafts to do, activities, and keeper chats galore! You can even leave the Zoo with information on how to help the Houston Zoo Conservation Department with their annual Crab Trap Clean up next month. Please come out to the SOS event next weekend and stop by the Crab Trap Clean Up booth in front of the Reptiles Building for more information. Together we can help turtles!!

By: Rachel Godambe, Natural Encounters Keeper

 

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Jul
12

Houston Zoo vet staff are saving Sea turtles!

Posted by in Conservation,Endangered Species,Sea Turtles,Texas

Kemp's Ridley

The incredible work Dr. Joe Flanagan and our clinic staff do for endangered stranded and injured Sea turtles from the upper Texas coast often goes un-noticed due to the fact that it goes on behind the scenes here at the Houston zoo.  But make no mistake, the clinic staff are Sea turtle rescue heroes!  Often Dr. Joe gets a call in the morning and injured Sea turtles arrive an hour or so later.  The clinic staff always make time for these paitents that are often in need of immediate attention. 

Last Friday morning Dr. Joe had several turtles come in for radio-graphs and evaluation.  One Loggerhead Sea turtle had a boat propeller injury, another was most likely a shark attack victim, and there were a few pre-release check-ups. 

Dr. Joe Fanagan examining an injured Sea turtle

In 2010, Dr. Joe Flanagan and his staff treated over 44 sea turtles.   There were 44 radio-graphs done, which included  16 Kemp’s ridleys, 7 Greens, 20 Loggerheads, and 1 Hawksbill.  There was blood work done on 40 animals including 14 Kemp’s ridleys, 8 Greens, 14 Loggerheads, and 2 Hawksbills.

So far in 2011, they have treated over 30 animals.  There were 30 radiographs done on 9 Kemps ridleys, 9 Greens, 6 loggerheads, and 6 Hawksbills.  Blood work was done on 27 animals including 10 Kemp’s ridleys, 8 Greens, 4 Loggerheads, and 5 Hawksbills.

Dr. Joe also makes site visits to NOAA Fisheries Service Galveston Laboratory, which is the federal sea turtle research facility, commonly referred to as “The Turtle Barn.” This laboratory is known worldwide for the captive-rearing of endangered sea turtles.  He visits frequently to monitor the progress of injured Sea turtles, perform ultrasounds, and other diagnostic procedures. 

The Sea turtle expertise here at the Houston zoo is greatly appreciated by the Sea turtle rescue community.  Enjoy this short clip to see some of the rehabilitation efforts in action!

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Jul
03

Hayley Harrison’s experience in the Houston Zoo’s Collegiate Conservation Program sponsored by ExxonMobil

Posted by in Collegiate Conservation program,Collegiate Conservation Program,Conservation,Field Research,Series,Texas

Hayley Harrison

Below is another student’s experience in the new Collegiate Conservation program here at the Houston Zoo. 

Hayley Harrison is a sophomore at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Currently, she is wildlife and fisheries major with an emphasis in wildlife ecology, conservation, and biodiversity. Haley is an intern with the Texas A&M Cooperative Wildlife Collections and Houston Museum of Natural Science. Additionally, she is an active member of the Texas A&M University Zoological Society where she meets regularly with professors to explore research and career opportunities.

“I enjoyed the Galveston Bay Foundation the most.  It was a project that we got to actually experience from start to finish.  Marsh Mania starts with collecting 100 buckets of salt marsh, though this became my least fave day of the week.  I got to see the planning and staging of the marshes at Marsh Mania sites and the planting and execution of the project by volunteers.  Seeing the partnerships involved in the GBF was really fulfilling.”

To read more experiences from students in the Houston Zoo Collegiate program please click here .

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Jun
07

Fun at the Texas Amphibian Watch Workshop at the Houston Zoo

Posted by in amphibians,Conservation,Endangered Species,Field Research,Texas

Texas Toad

 Amphibians are small but mighty.  They have been called the birds of night, which anyone that has been outside by a pond at night can understand.  Their vocalizations often fill the night air.  Frogs and toads work diligantly to keep insects in check and are vital to the survival of many other species. But besides that these little creatures are full of character, they come in many shapes, colors and sizes.  Their distinct calls allow us to connect with them without even seeing them.

Coastal Plains Toad

Last Friday,  the Houston zoo hosted a Texas Amphibian Watch family workshop.  It was designed to help familiarize  participants with local amphibians.   Fun was had by all!  During a lesson on frog calls the Zoo’s auditorium was filled with beautiful froggy singing voices as all of the participants mimiced frog vocalizations in an effort to thouroughly learn them. Everyone got to hike through the wilds of Herman park to listen and watch for our slippery little friends.

Woodhouse Toad

 

This program offered everyone the opportunity to help conserve amphibians in Texas by learning how to collect information about local frogs and toads for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.   Participants were very excited to become scientists in their own back yard!

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May
31

A Trip to the Largest Colony of Bats in the World at Bracken Cave

Posted by in Bats,Conservation,Texas

Did you know that Texas has the largest bat colony in the world?  Bracken cave, just outside of San Antonio, is home to 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats from March until October.  Yet another thing for Texans to be proud of! 

Mexican free-tailed bat

We had the opportunity to watch the bats emerge this week.  We attended an urban wildlife conference that offered a trip with the folks from Bat Conservation International (BCI) to Bracken cave to see the bats.  The cave is not open to the general public, so we felt very privileged. 

We pulled up to the site at around 6:00pm.  As we exited the bus, although we were a distance from the cave, the distinct smell of 20 million bats filled the air.  We walked up to the mouth of the cave that is surrounded in 697 acres of Texas hill country and sat for a while to listen to the BCI interpreter talk about the bats and the history of the cave. 

If it wasn’t for BCI Bracken would have been surrounded by subdivisions by now.  And, BCI is protecting more than just the bats, they are conserving all the wildlife in the area, restoring native vegetation and removing invasive species.

At around 7:30pm we sat quietly by the opening to the cave and eagerly awaited the bat emergence.  At 8:20pm the first bats began to spiral out of the cave.  It wasn’t long before they peppered the sky.  Two birds of prey swooped down and snatched a few of the bats out of mid air.  When you cupped you hands behind you ears the millions of wings sounded like rushing water.  Bats were everywhere!   I have never seen or felt anything like it!  Just to give you an idea of the mass quantity of bats, it takes four hours for all the bats to stream out of the cave in the evenings.  

Thank you BCI for all of your dedicated work and protection of this natural wonder of the world!

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May
16

The new Conservation Annual Report is here!

Posted by in community-based conservation,Conservation,Endangered Species,Field Research,Texas

Houston Toad release

So, what has the conservation department been up to over the past year?  I am sure you hear snippets here and there about the work we do, but we wanted to make sure we had a way for people to get a full scope of what the Houston Zoo is doing around the world to ensure that the endangered species we house here at the zoo will continue to thrive in the wild.  With the help of our partners we are endeavoring to ensure the security of the planet’s biodiversity.  

 

Attwater's prairie chicken chick

Our report tells of a lot of great progress in wildlife conservation this year.  You can read about the observation of female captive bred Attwater’s prairie chickens raising their chicks in the wild.  The goal in wildlife conservation is not just to save species, we also seek to improve the lives of the local communities.   You will enjoy the story of how children in Rwanda love to dress up and learn about wildlife through plays and dance.   This report will inspire you and bring you up to speed on the depth of our efforts.   

“This report is full of human partnerships and friendships that give us hope for the future, as science alone cannot save a species“  a quote from the Houston Zoo Director, Rick Barongi.

Click here to read the Conservation Annual Report.

 

 

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Apr
25

Our first Attwater’s Prairie chicken egg hatched today!

Posted by in Attwater's Prairie Chicken,Conservation,Endangered Species,Texas

I was greeted in the parking lot this morning by a very excited member of the bird department, who insisted I come to meet the cutest hatchling there ever was.  I of course agreed(I also may have jumped up and down with joy) and followed him and another keeper to the incubation room.  They opened the incubator, the little fluffy critically endangered chick sat there looking bright,  alert and ready to take on the world.  One of the bird keepers remarked that it definitely rivaled a baby Red panda in cuteness, and quite honestly I had to agree.   They eagerly showed me the egg the chick hatched out of, and how perfectly the little one chipped its way out of the shell.  I am always so grateful to share in moments like these, the fact that this little guy’s species is even still existing is due in part to our bird department’s deterimenation and hard work.   They are proud parents and as they should be!

Attwater’s prairie chicken is barely hanging on in a few small protected remnants of its native habitat. In addition to captive breeding, the future of this seriously threatened bird will rest not only with the United States government, state agencies, and zoological institutions that have taken up its cause, but also with the people of Texas. Land owned and protected by private citizens will very likely become the final stronghold for this native species.

I do realize that this is an amazing perk of working at the Houston Zoo, but there should be some sort of App created that could kick start everyones morning with a viewing of a critically endangered species baby like I got today!

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Apr
01

Houston Toad surveys have begun

Posted by in amphibians,Conservation,Endangered Species,Field Research,Texas

Houston Toads

Conservation staff spring surveys have begun for the detection of calling Houston toads (endangered endemic) in Austin and Colorado county.  We currently have 3,000 Houston toads in the quarantine facility at the Zoo. That is more than the entire known population in the wild. We have released close to 30,000 toads, toadlets and late stage tadpoles in the last 3 years of head starting.  To learn more about Houston toads go here .

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Jan
29

How to Capture an Amphibian Call

Posted by in amphibians,Conservation,Endangered Species,Field Research,Texas,What You Can Do

Last Friday, Houston Zoo Conservation Staff accompanied an enthusiastic HZI volunteer and Rice graduate student, Cassidy Johnson, and her father, J. Johnson, to their families amazing 2,500 acre property to set up recording devices to capture the calls of amphibians, and hopefully, the elusive and rare Houston toad!

The Johnsons and Amphibian Conservation Manager, Paul Crump, look over maps of the property to decide the best ponds to install the frog recording devices

Cassidy’s father came up with this impressive contraption himself. When an animal makes a noise (in this case, hopefully a frog) the recording device turns on and records the sound.

Cassidy and her father hike a “froglogger” up into a tree near a pond.

He can later download the files and hear what is hopping around his ponds! Bravo to the Johnsons for caring about amphibians on their property!

With a 2,500 acre property ATV’s are a must to get around from site to site. Did I mention it was 40 something degrees? It was freezing!

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Nov
03

Big Thicket National Preserve Rodent & Insectivore Survey

Posted by in Field Research,Texas

Big Thicket

The fun has begun!  We recently started our Rodent & Insectivore Survey in the Turkey Creek Unit at BTNP.  After picking out our first survey site in the Piney Woods Bottomland, we loaded our gear into backpacks and hiked into the woods.  As soon as we lost sight of the dirt road, we felt like we had stepped back in time, exploring an area without any sign of civilization.  A compass or GPS is a must in order not to get lost.

We began our survey by placing our Sherman traps (a type of humane, live trap) out in a grid – 3 lines of 10 traps each, 30 feet apart.  Each trap was baited with mealworms, peanut butter or seed.  We pushed our way through the brush, watching out for spiders, burrow holes and snakes.  Data was recorded on each trap, such as the size of the trap, what bait was used, the GPS coordinates, etc.  After about 2-1/2 hours, we were finished and left the traps to see what we would catch overnight when the rodents were more active.

Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus

After spending the night at the BTNP Field Research Station, we rose before daylight to go out and check the traps.  Using our GPS, we located the traps and approached each one with anticipation to see if the trap had an occupant.  Unfortunately, we found 30 empty traps.  But this is just the beginning of a year-long project, and we will also be sampling other areas, so next time we might be more successful in our trapping efforts!

 

Written by, Charlona Ingram, Houston Zoo Naturalist           

 
 
 

 

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