Habitat Loss
By Bruce Lee Deuley - 7/9/03

One of the greatest threats to our hill country wildlife is habitat loss. The loss of native habitat combined with the extensive use of non-native plants and the abuse of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides have taken their toll by giving our native birds, butterflies and other small animal’s very little habitat in which to live and reproduce.

Native plants draw 10 to 50 times more wildlife species than do non-native species. In addition, some of the introduced species such as, Nandina, Red-Tipped Photinia, Wax-leaf Ligustrum and the Chinaberry tree have invaded our natural areas and are out competing our native species.

However, you can help reverse this trend. Start reducing your lawn area and replace it with natural areas planted with native plants. The initial investment in time and money you invest will be more than offset by the lower cost of upkeep and water and the added advantage having to mow less.

We are fortunate in Kerrville to have a place we can all go and see how our native plants look and grow in their natural state and how they could fit into your new natural landscape. Just load up the family and visit the Riverside Nature Center on Francisco Lemos Street. They grow many of our native trees, perennials and annuals and have a good selection of books and pamphlets to help guide you back to the natural way of landscaping.

Most people are unaware of the damage done by their use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on the quality of our water. The over-use of synthetic nitrogen, which ends up in The Guadalupe River as well as all of our other waterways and lakes, results in the growth of excess vegetation and algae. During nighttime hours when oxygen levels drop this out-of-balance situation can cause the death of many aquatic organisms.

Pesticides kill more than 50 million birds every year. They pass through chemically treated golf courses, lawns and gardens and ingest the chemicals by eating the plants that have taken up the poisons or the insects that have eaten the plants. Many times we are unaware we have contributed to their death because they first become ill and retreat to a secluded place to die.

Granulated pesticides are even more dangerous sine many birds actually ingest them directly, thinking they are food or small rocks, which birds naturally ingest to aid in digestion. Three to five granules of Diazinon will kill the average songbird!

Fortunately, the EPA has prohibited the sale of Diazinon after December 31 of this year. However, the chemicals they are allowing to be marketed are not much safer.

One more problem for our native birds and wildlife is something we could all help to solve. The average domestic house cat who is allowed to roam free may kill as many as 100 birds, lizards, rabbits and other small animals every year. Even your well fed house cat complete with his bell on his collar is guilty. There were no small cat species native to our part of the country so our wildlife did not evolve with these mini-predators and do not have any good natural defense to protect them or their young.