Pryric-carnivory: Predation of a Texas Tortoise by a Crested Caracara Following a Prescribed Fire
Author(s): Cornaby, G.J., C.M. Kiel, E.P. Tanner, S. Rideout-Hanzak, A.M. Tanner, D.B. Wester, A.B. Montalvo, and T.J. Hibbitts
Published: October 2025
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.
Suggested Citation
Cornaby, G.J., C.M. Kiel, E.P. Tanner, S. Rideout-Hanzak, A.M. Tanner, D.B. Wester, A.B. Montalvo, and T.J. Hibbitts. 2024. Pryric-carnivory: Predation of a Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri) by a Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) following a prescribed fire. Herpetology Notes 17:621–624. (East Foundation Manuscript 109)