wildlife Archives - 101 Highland Lakes

Nightmare nutria damage habitat and spread disease but make a delicate dish

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“Cuddly,” “adorable,” and “cute” are not words used to describe the nutria. More likely, it would be referred to as “gross,” “dirty,” and “destructive.” The raccoon-size rodent is in the spiny rat family native to South America. Considered pests and Read more…

November 4, 2024

Outdoors

Tarantulas looking for love

By

Staff

The Texas brown tarantula is a common sight in the Highland Lakes from May through July, often as it’s crossing the road looking for love. Welcome to Texas tarantula migration season, which sometimes extends into October in Central Texas as Read more…

June 9, 2024

Though a roadrunner spotting might make you want to say ‘meep-meep,’ the ground bird actually coos, clucks, or rattles. It is a member of the cuckoo family.

Outdoors

A roadrunner rundown

By

Jennifer Greenwell

In a flock by itself, the greater roadrunner, also called a chaparral cock or paisano, is one of the most easily recognizable birds in the Hill Country. As rugged as the terrain in which it thrives, this native Texan is Read more…

October 9, 2023

A Texas leaf katydid chows down on vegetation. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell

Outdoors

Texas leaf katydid choruses perform their love songs at dark

By

Jennifer Greenwell

Out of sight, out of mind does not apply to the Texas leaf katydid. The rarely seen and naturally camouflaged insect is known for being one of the loudest creatures on the continent with sounds capable of registering 110 decibels Read more…

August 9, 2023

Coyotes are native wildlife, although closely related to the much-loved domestic dog. However, save the treats for your pet. While the two are similar in appearance, they are very different when it comes to instinct and personality. Adobe Stock photo

Outdoors

Naturally shy yet vocal coyotes are often heard but not seen

By

Jennifer Greenwell

Coyotes are portrayed as cunning tricksters in Native American mythology and one memorable Looney Tunes cartoon series. In reality, they are intelligent, have excellent senses, and are highly adaptable to habitat changes. Because of the last trait, they are often Read more…

July 17, 2023

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge manager Kelly Perky on the outskirts of the refuge, where goats are used to create viable habitat for the black-capped vireo, once an endangered species. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey

Outdoors

Balcones Canyonlands refuge turns foes into friends with habitat plan

By

Dakota Morrissiey

It’s all about the scrub. Black-capped vireos live in it and goats eat it. The balance between those two needs creates the perfect habitat for the once-endangered songbird, which makes its home in Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. Sitting atop Read more…

July 11, 2023

LEFT: Swamp rabbits often take to the water to escape a threat. They are known to submerge themselves with only a nose above water in hopes of eluding a predator. CENTER: Black-tailed jackrabbits have ears nearly as long as their hind feet. The ears have black tips and the tail has a black area that extends onto the rump. Mature females can have 2-4 litters a year with 4-6 young per litter. RIGHT: Eastern cottontails, unlike jackrabbits, prefer the shelter of brushy cover. They typically hop slowly, freezing in place ever so often to check their surroundings for predators. Eastern cottontails rely on camouflage and cover to stay out of harm’s way.

Outdoors

Splitting hares and rabbits: Differences can get a little fuzzy

By

Jennifer Greenwell

With spring's arrival each year comes thoughts of Peter Cottontail hopping down a bunny trail, but wait — was that Peter Cottontail? Or, could it be his cousin Nutbrown Hare? Don’t jump to conclusions. Rabbits in Texas behave more like hares, Read more…

May 8, 2023

Common across Texas, the giant red-headed centipede (Scolopendra heros) reaches up to 8 inches in length — the largest centipede species in North America.

Outdoors

Nocturnal (and nightmarish) giant red-headed centipede is native to Texas

By

Jennifer Greenwell

This native Texan is, to some, what nightmares are made of: a large, dark, squirmy body fitted with 40-something writhing, scratching, venomous legs fronted with a glaring red head and a mean set of vicious-looking fangs, also supplied with venom. Read more…

November 22, 2022

Ringtails mate in the spring, and females give birth to up to four kits. Mothers do most of the raising, but the dads have been known to stick around a short time to play with the babies. It would have to be a short time, however, as kits move out and are on their own at around 4 months old.

Outdoors

Ringtail tell-all: Learn about this elusive native Texan

By

Jennifer Greenwell

Those who have caught a glimpse of this native Texan in its natural habitat should consider themselves lucky. With a face like a fox, a body like a cat, a tail like a raccoon, and the moves of a wildly Read more…

July 18, 2022

Twice a year, monarch butterflies migrate between Canada and Mexico, a 6,000-mile round trip that takes them through the Highland Lakes of Texas. iStock photo

Outdoors

Welcome to the Texas Butterfly Ranch

By

Suzanne Freeman

It's not an exact destination; it surrounds Highland Lakes visitors Monarch butterflies love the Highland Lakes, part of the Texas Butterfly Ranch. The ranch is not a location on a map. No address will lead you to a spot to Read more…

April 11, 2022

wildlife

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