“Education, Restoration, Conservation”
Our Mission
The Texas Master Naturalist Program’s mission is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the State of Texas.
Our Commitment to You
The Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist chapter is strengthened by the diversity of our members. We are committed to providing a welcoming environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are a core part of everything that we do. We strive to be an organization that reflects the communities we serve and encourages multiple ideas and viewpoints.
The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and other local partners.
Congratulations to the Blackland Prairie Chapter Class of 2024!
Monthly Chapter Meetings
2024 October Chapter Meeting with Curtis Jones, Ph.D. | Kaput® Feral Hog Bait: An Effective Tool for Controlling Feral Hog Populations in Texas
Cali Bakker, Class of 2024
Feral hogs (Sus scrofa), an invasive species in Texas, pose significant challenges due to their destructive behaviors, including rooting, wallowing, and predation. Originally introduced through domestic swine in the 1500s and supplemented by Eurasian wild boar in the 1930s, feral hogs have rapidly spread across the state. These animals are highly adaptable, opportunistic omnivores with a preference for areas near water. Their prolific reproduction, resilience, and generalist diet enable them to thrive in diverse habitats, leading to widespread damage to crops, waterways, property, and native ecosystems. Feral hogs also compete with wildlife and livestock and can transmit diseases to both animals and humans.
To mitigate the impacts of feral hogs, Kaput® Feral Hog Bait, a warfarin-based toxicant, was introduced and registered by the EPA in 2017. This document details the proper use of Kaput®, highlighting its chronic toxicity, requiring repeated consumption to be lethal, and the need for precise implementation via hog-specific feeders. Pre-baiting protocols using corn help condition hogs to the feeders before transitioning to the toxic bait. Field studies in Texas, conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension across multiple counties, demonstrated the effectiveness of Kaput® when used according to label protocols. However, challenges such as alternative food availability and inconsistent baiting can hinder success.
The safety of the bait was a key consideration, with studies indicating minimal risk of secondary toxicity to non-target animals and humans. Although direct consumption of the bait is harmful, strict adherence to label guidelines ensures the protection of livestock and the environment. The bait is a valuable tool in integrated pest management strategies for controlling feral hog populations in Texas, with success dependent on the dedication of landowners and consistent baiting practices.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.
- SRC Doors will open at 6:30 PM
- Zoom meeting waiting room will open at 6:45 PM
- Business Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM
- Naturalist Talk will begin at 7:30 PM (approximately)
Topic: Kaput® Feral Hog Bait: An Effective Tool for Controlling Feral Hog Populations in Texas
Speaker: Curtis Jones, Ph.D., agriculture and natural resources, Collin County. Jones, of Tom Bean, earned a bachelor’s and master’s in agronomy from Texas A&M and a doctorate from Louisiana State University. Previously, he worked in weed biology, ecology and herbicide interactions during his time in Louisiana and then as an assistant professor for the past 14 years at Texas A&M Commerce. Jones said he looks forward to working with the producers and youth in Collin County. “I joined AgriLife Extension to help producers and to help those who want to learn.”
Physical Meeting Location: Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary,
1Nature Place, McKinney TX 75069, Science Resource Center (SRC) building.
Directions to SRC: Drive through Heard gates; go past parking lot and museum building; continue until the road ends at the large white SRC building.
Online Zoom Meeting Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqc-yrqT4rHtzVMlNaWFk_mL0NlAjq0Lpj
Please register ahead of time for this meeting using your Zoom Account Email address.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.
Logging AT: The monthly meeting presentation will allow members to earn 1-hour of AT. Log as AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting Only (1 hour) with the speaker’s name and topic in the description box.
For any additional questions, please contact.
Chapter Meeting Host: Cali Bakker – calib@bptmn.org
Past Chapter Meeting Speakers and Topics
2024 November Deep Dive – Mycology 101 with Jean Suplick
A Beginner’s Guide to Encountering the Wild World of Mushrooms
Join us as Jean Suplick shares how she traveled that path and what she learned along the way to becoming a Texas Master Naturalist. She will discuss what kind of mushrooms to expect in our area and when, what to know about mushroom identification, tools for the field, and helpful resources.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vce6oqD8rEtU9RVoVxEDvM06e_-bOY3EP
Tuesday, November 18 – Mycology 101 with Jean Suplick
Click here to view our Calendar.
Topic: A Beginner’s Guide to Encountering the Wild World of Mushrooms
Speaker: Jean Suplick has been a Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter since 2017. Her inveterate inquisitiveness about all things wild led to a journey of exploration into our local mushrooms.
Online Zoom Meeting Registration for “Requiem for a Wren” with ED Burke:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtd-GvpzssGNx7VCkoBC7csgEVRGSfSo7j
Please register ahead of time for this meeting using your Zoom Account Email address.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.
Logging AT: Approved for 1 hour of AT to be logged as AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-approved Training with name of speaker and topic in the description box.
Current News
Texas Pollinator Bioblitz, October 11th – 27th, 2024
Submitted by Jean Higgins, Class of 2023 Follow the link for more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife site! https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/bioblitz?utm_campaign=bioblitz24&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery Observers can share their photos and videos on Instagram and Facebook (#TXPollinators). Pollinators can be difficult to identify, so observers are encouraged to post what they know, which may be a simple description of the species or its behavior. To take part in citizen science, participants can post a photo and more details on iNaturalist (view past year’s data in 2023 Texas Pollinator BioBlitz project), which records the date and location of the observation and allows other naturalists to help with identification.
Rewilding Sticker Hill: Trying to Succeed at Succession
Article and Photos by Karen Glenn, Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist; Submitted by Patricia Crain, Class of 2018 One thing I really love about the concept of rewilding is the opportunity to take things slow. It is a process of working with nature and looking at a habitat from the perspective of native flora and fauna. Farming and gardening are mostly based on a human perspective of land use. Permaculture practices were movements towards rewilding, and while building a permaculture is much better for the native habitat, the practices still focus on a human-needs perspective. While I add my own food…
Clymer Meadow Preserve Tour – September 28th
3rd Annual Connemara Mothing Event on Saturday September 21, 7pm – 9pm
Michelle Connally, Class of 2018 Join us for a mothing event at Connemara Meadow Preserve! The Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists is hosting its 3rd Annual Mothing Event. We’ll meet on the evening of September 21 from 7-9p in the Pecan Grove at The Connemara Meadow. This is a family friendly event sponsored by our chapter. Your friends and family members are welcome to join you in the Pecan Grove. There is no cost to attend. Several Master Naturalists will be setting up mothing equipment so you can have a fun and educational evening in the meadow. This is…