GCMN Chapter Meeting – Bobcats with Richard Heilbrun, Wildlife Conservation Pgm Director, TPWD

Please join us for the:

TMN Gulf Coast Chapter Meeting

When: Thursday, 1/8/26

Where: Houston Arboretum Nature Center

• 6:30-7 PM – Social time & Refreshments (please bring food/drinks to share if possible!)

• 7-7:30 PM – Chapter business

• 7:30-8:30 PM – SPEAKER PRESENTATION (virtual) and Q&A

• 8:30 PM – Door prizes & Meeting ends

Featured speaker and presentation:

Our first speaker for 2026 is Richard Heilbrun, Wildlife conservation program director at TPWD (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department).

Richard is the Wildlife Diversity Program Director at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, where he has served for 24 years. In his role, he oversees statewide programs focused on rare species conservation, non-game wildlife, wildlife permitting, urban wildlife, and human–wildlife interactions, including the Texas Master Naturalists and Texas Nature Tracker citizen science programs. A lifelong nature enthusiast who grew up exploring Houston-area creeks, Richard’s career was shaped by early outdoor experiences and mentorship. He is deeply committed to expanding access to nature for children and families, addressing barriers such as fear and inequity, and advancing the mission of the Texas Children in Nature Network, where he serves as a board member.

Richard studied bobcats in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex revealed surprisingly high densities of these elusive carnivores in metropolitan areas, demonstrating that urban green spaces, creeks, and river corridors can effectively support native wildlife. Using satellite-collared bobcats, Heilbrun’s work shows that bobcats primarily rely on natural prey and habitat features rather than human resources, underscoring the importance of conserving wild places within cities. His research informs urban wildlife management and helps communities better understand and coexist with wildlife in rapidly growing landscapes.

During this presentation…
You will learn about TX bobcats, which is the species chosen for the 2026 TX TMN pin!

Links for more information:

https://youtu.be/0mbGhS9ZNhQ

Can’t make it in person? Join us over Zoom!

LINK to register

Register in advance for the meeting(s)

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/0Ht2efq0RvKcelu6fOJBNw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This link will be the same for all 2026 meetings, and once you register once, you do not need to register again; simply go to the meeting link that Zoom sends you after registering.