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Where there's smoke, there's wildlife. Texas Cooperative Extension has scheduled the symposium "Fire as a Tool for Managing Wildlife Habitat in Texas" for Sept. 14-16 at the YO Ranch Hotel and Conference Center in Kerrville.
Dr. Dale Rollins, Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo and the program's coordinator, said fire as a tool for managing wildlife habitats has never been more popular.
"This symposium addresses issues and applications of prescribed burning to enhance wildlife habitat in Texas," Rollins said.
"The symposium is being dedicated to four individuals who have made special contributions to our knowledge base for using fire to improve wildlife habitat in Texas. These pioneers include the late Dr. Henry Wright, Texas Tech University; the late Dr. Charles Scifres of the Texas A&M University System; Bill Armstrong of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerrville; and Alan Heirman of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Albany."
Rollins praised the efforts of these men in making prescribed burning an important method for managing rangelands.
"The adoption of fire as a tool for management purposes has made quite a turnaround from just 20 years ago," he noted.
"Our slate of speakers is a `who's who' of `pyro-managers' in Texas. Topics will include fire effects on various wildlife species and its impact throughout various eco-regions of Texas," " Rollins added.
The symposium should interest landowners, hunters, wildlife managers, agency staff and anyone else interested in learning more about the role of fire in wildlife management," he said.
The symposium starts Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. at the hotel and ends with a tour of the Kerr Wildlife Management Area near Hunt on Sept. 16. Rollins said the management area showcases how fire can be used successfully to manage habitats for deer, endangered species and livestock simultaneously.
A total of nine Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available for those holding private applicators licenses. Other continuing education credits are also being given by various professional societies.
Symposium sponsors include Extension, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Center for Grazing Lands and Ranch Management, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Texas Tech, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Noble Foundation, Welder Wildlife Foundation, Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burning Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Audubon Society, The Wildlife Society, Nature Conservancy of Texas, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration, and Vulcan Materials Inc.
Individual pre-registration is $50 until Sept. 1, and $75 thereafter and at the door. Registration includes two meals, refreshments and a copy of the symposium proceedings.
For more information, see http://texnat.tamu.edu or e-mail Rollins at d-rollins@tamu.edu or call him at (325) 653-4576.
