CattleCon is an industry-leading event bringing together the brightest minds, breakthrough innovations, and unparalleled networking in one dynamic space. Early registration guarantees your choice of sessions and accommodations. Join peers and industry pioneers for conversations that will shape the future of our field - we'll see you there!

In partnership with The Wildlife & Natural Resources Committee, we're presenting a two-part educational series this February. Join us on February 12 for expert discussions on Chronic Wasting Disease, followed by a session on February 17 featuring presentations on Mountain Lion Ecology and the Endangered Species Act. Speakers include experts from Texas A&M University, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, and East Foundation.

Connect with hundreds of wildlife professionals and students at The Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society's dynamic annual conference, where you'll experience cutting-edge research presentations, valuable networking opportunities, engaging workshops, and student competitions – all while connecting with colleagues from across Texas in a different exciting location each February!

This article documents an observation of pyric-carnivory, where a Crested Caracara preyed on a Texas Tortoise following a prescribed fire in southern Texas, illustrating how fire can temporarily increase prey vulnerability by removing protective cover. The incident highlights the complex relationship between fire management, predator-prey dynamics, and species conservation, emphasizing the need for further research on the short-term and long-term ecological impacts of prescribed fires on species like the Texas Tortoise.

In the Winter 2025 edition of our newsletter, you can read about the history of screwworms and their current relevance, a primer on our dual calving season strategy, how our education team works with the next generation of professions, and about our white-tailed deer capture project.

Northern bobwhite population estimates have been crucial for wildlife management in Texas, where the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute has spent over 30 years developing estimation techniques, including a 2010 method for converting helicopter survey counts to density estimates. Building upon the 2010 work, recent research from 2014-2019 has led to an updated conversion factor that accounts for survey conditions like weather, time of day, and brush cover, providing more accurate population estimates for this important gamebird species.