Brazos Valley Wildlife

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Families moving to the Brazos Valley may wonder what types of animals they’ll run into if they go fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, or some other outdoor activity to do in warm weather. Brazos Valley is richly blessed with a wide variety of wildlife. This blog will list some of the most frequently seen and/or asked about wild life in our area.

SNAKES OF SE TEXAS 
You’re likely to encounter snkaes if you spend a lot of time outdoors. First on the list are venomous snakes. All four types of venomous snakes found in North America can be found here, several species of Rattlesnakes, the Southern Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth, and Texas Coral Snake. It’s advisable to wear protective footwear when out in the wilderness. 
There are many species of non-venomous snakes. One of particular interest is the Louisiana Milk Snake, because it is similar in marking to the Coral Snake. There are dozens of other non-venomous snakes of many markings and sizes. Even though most snakes are non-venomous, a bite may leave a wound that will develop a nasty infection, take every precaution. 

PREDATORS (both carnivores and omnivores) OF SE TEXAS 
 A medium-sized cat with reddish-spotted fur and a black-only on top at the tip of a short tail is the BOBCAT, who feeds primarily on small mammals and birds and is mainly nocturnal and solitary. MINKS, a medium sized weasel-like carnivore with dark brown fur and a white chin patch, preferring stream, pond, and lake habitats feeding small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, fish and crayfish; mainly nocturnal. 
OTTERS are a larger weasel-like carnivore with brown fur above and silvery fur in the face, chin and belly areas with webbed feet. They are aquatic and feed fish, frogs and crayfish. LONG-TAILED WEASELS are small and streamlined carnivores with yellowish-white under parts and brown to reddish brown fur over the rest of the body, a black-tipped tail and some have white patches between eyes and under ears. They feeds on rodents, rabbits, birds and other small animals. There are a couple members of the dog family to be found roaming our neck of the woods; the GRAY FOX and the COYOTE (sometimes confused with a wolf). And then there are several species of SKUNKS you may want to avoid… The last predators I’ll list in our area are RACCOONS, OPOSSUMS, RINGTAILS, and ARMADILLOS, who shouldn’t need descriptions. 

Some common HERBIVORES OF SE TEXAS to be found in the Brazos Valley include the EASTERN FOX & EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS, BEAVERS, NUTRIAS, BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBITS, and SWAMP & COTTONTAIL rabbits. 

GAME BIRDS OF SE TEXAS you will encounter if you are persistent; A few non-migratory game birds in our area are Quails, Northern Bobwhites and Turkeys. We are the winter home of hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, including many species of ducks and geese. It is important for hunters to properly identify birds before shooting. There are many protected species of birds in the Brazos Valley.

OTHER BIRDS OF SE TEXAS to be found in Brazos Valley include Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Kestrels (sparrow hawks), Owls, Reddish Egrets, Meadowlarks, Roadrunners, the American Coot, Snipes (there really is a snipe), Sandhill & Whooping Cranes, Plovers, Mourning Doves, pigeons and so many more. 

This blog post barely scratches the surface of available information on the CRITTERS we are so blessed to have in the Brazos Valley. For your further reference, the TEXAS WILDLIFE IDENTIFICATION GUIDE (in entirety) can be found on this link: 
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_k0700_0517.pdf.

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