El Sauz Ranch

Arrived at El Sauz Ranch, which is located around Port Mansfield, TX. The ranch itself backs right onto the beach, although the murky waters on the bay side of Padre Island are a bit less picturesque than Florida blues and greens. The ranch itself is much smaller than San Antonio Viejo, and is made up of rolling dune grasslands, wetlands, mesquite, and oak woodlands. Lots of turkeys and nilgai, and sadly some ticks. Very beautiful place, though from the little I've worked there so far it looks like it's going to be an uphill battle. Our first big grid caught about 125 animals the second day of trapping (of about 180 traps)!

Turkeys near the ranch house at El Sauz

Bunchgrass area with lots of captures, was burned last summer

 Rolling grasslands on interior of ranch

Where El Sauz meets the sea

New species! Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri)

 

Have yet to get a good photo of the nilgai, but they have a solid presence out here. Each day we've seen about 10-12, some in small groups. The males and females have different colorations, with males being more gray and females a rusty red. They harvest them every once in a while using helicopters, since they're an invasive species here and apparently taste good.

Also have seen another two rodent species, the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) and northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori), which I need to get photos for.

Next time off I have some more options of things to do, may go to Padre Island or down to Harlingen.