Prairie Rose Chapter

FEBRUARY MEETING

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FEBRUARY 27, 2023  MEETING

Ungulate Conservation/Grasslands Preservation
By Adam Eyres, Director of Animal Care,
of the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Monday, February 27, 6 p.m.
at Glen Rose Citizen’s Center
209 Barnard Street

 

It’s a well-known fact that for conservation to be successful it must include all of the moving parts.  There have been numerous studies showing the benefit to grasslands through the conservation of bison.  Bison, and other prey species, have been successful through the conservation of predators.  We’ll discuss the work that Fossil Rim does for the conservation of species under our care, and extrapolate to how that creates opportunities for success, both within our fences, and in the countries these animals call home.

As the Director of Animal Care at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas, Adam has been very fortunate to work his way up at Fossil Rim from Animal Care Specialist, to supervisor, curator, and now director.  He started his career over 30 years ago and has never been a “this is my favorite animal” kind of guy—he’s always been about conservation in the larger scenario.  To that end he’s involved himself with organizations like C2S2 and the International Rhino Foundation (where he serves on their board of directors), and the International Rhino Keeper’s Association (as an advisor to their Board of Directors).  He has also been lucky to participate in the ongoing reintroduction efforts of SaharaConservation and the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi for scimitar horned oryx, addax and dama gazelles.  He has traveled to Chad and Abu Dhabi many times to help with this project—usually as a hands-on animal care person during transports, collaring, captures, or translocations within Chad.

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About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason