Wildlife
People
are intrigued by wildlife and enjoy watching different species interact.
Many Texans have been introduced to the outdoors
through hunting and fishing, activities that have contributed an estimated
$3.3 billion annually to the state’s economy.
Wildlife viewing, including bird-watching, is gaining in popularity
among outdoor enthusiasts. For example, the number of bird-watchers
nationwide has increased from 21 million in 1983 to 68 million in 2000.
With increased enthusiasm
for wildlife comes a growing economic potential for landowners to
offer nature-based tourism. To attract wildlife—and
in turn, people—to their properties, land managers have worked
to improve the habitat on their properties by using management techniques
such as shallow disking, prescribed burning, and livestock grazing.
One underused method for attracting wildlife is the installation of
watering devices to provide a supplemental source of water for animals.
Land managers are also harvesting rainwater to better distribute water
on the landscape, thus increasing the amount of usable space for wildlife.
Rainwater can be captured using several kinds of devices and management
techniques. To make the best choice for a specific property, land managers
should consider many factors, including the sources of water used by
animals, the number and diversity of wildlife on the land, differences
in mobility for various species, rainfall patterns in the area, and
options available for harvesting, storing, and conveying rainwater.
Related Resources
Harvesting
Rainwater for Wildlife
Landowners can attract wildlife to their properties by
installing rainwater catchment devices. This publication explains wildlife
water sources, management considerations, rainfall catchment areas
and wildlife tax valuation.