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!

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!

Join us for South Texas's premier conservation celebration - the Harvey Weil Dinner. This cherished tradition bridges generations, paying tribute to our rich heritage while advancing our commitment to tomorrow's legacy. Reserve your place at an evening where lasting friendships, meaningful conservation, and the spirit of Harvey Weil come together for an unforgettable South Texas evening. 

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.

Researchers developed the first documented age classification method for free-ranging nilgai antelope by analyzing tooth eruption patterns, wear, and cementum annuli from 225 harvested nilgai in southern Texas. While the study found only weak correlations between tooth height measurements and age, it successfully established 13 tooth eruption stages and six age classes that can help land managers assess population structures and potentially evaluate age-biased predation in both Texas and the nilgai's native Indian range.

Although reintroducing carnivores like ocelots is crucial for population recovery and ecosystem restoration, there has been a lack of published population models to guide these efforts until now. A new study modeling ocelot reintroduction in Texas shows that long-term releases (initial six ocelots followed by four annually for 10-15 years), combined with careful genetic management and habitat protection, are necessary to establish a viable population of at least 36 individuals with minimal extinction risk.