Texas Nature Trackers, associated with the Texas Master Naturalist Program, is a citizen science monitoring effort designed to involve volunteers of all ages and interest levels in gathering scientific data on species of concern in Texas through experiential learning. The goal of the program is to enable long-term conservation of these species and appreciation among Texas citizens.
Texas plant and animal diversity is in decline and Texans want to help. Now, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, along with other partners, offers Texans the opportunity to do just that.
The Texas Nature Trackers projects described here involve general skills of observation and note taking—you don’t have to be a scientist to participate. Through TNT projects, Texans learn how to gather data about various species found on public lands or on their own property. This data is sent to biologists who use the information to give us a better understanding about the trends and management needs of various species in the state.
The aim of Texas Nature Trackers is to ensure that native Texas species will be here for future generations to know and enjoy.
Learn how you can get invloved by tracking amphibians, box turtles, praire dogs, hummingbirds, butterflies, horned lizards and more! Check out the Texas Nature Tracker Brochure for details!
Fun Fact: Horned lizards use a wide variety of means to avoid predation. Their coloration generally serves as camouflage. When threatened, their first defense is to remain still and hope to avoid detection. If approached too closely, they generally run in short bursts and stop abruptly to confuse the predator’s visual acuity. If this fails, they puff up their body to cause it to look more horny, making it appear larger and more difficult to swallow. At least four species are also able to squirt an aimed stream of blood from the corners of the eyes for a distance of up to 5 feet!
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