Texas Wildlife Association presents....
June 2013
Kid’s Quarterly Mini-Mag!
Vol. 7 No. 2
P o s t c a r d s f r o m N a n c y . . . . By Cara Bierschwale
Howdy, Partners!
“AHH!” he exclaimed. “Bigfoot track!” Grant pointed to
Only three miles west of crossing the border into Louisiana,
the muddy ground at a large, deep print. It was almost a
Grant the Gopher and I are in deep East Texas spending some
foot long! My heartbeat raced as I tried to make sense of the
time at Caddo Lake State Park in Karnack, Texas. This area is
situation. Just then, Grant and I turned around
25,400 acres of lake, wetlands, and beautiful cypress forests
towards the sound of something large sliding
located right on the border between Texas and Louisiana.
and swooshing along the mud behind us. Our
Caddo Lake is named for the Caddoans, Native Americans that
eyes focused in the dark on some movement
lived in the area, and until the early 1900’s this was the only
by the reedy bank, and the last thing we saw
natural lake in Texas.
before sprinting back to camp was something
Grant and I came here on a mission: to find evidence of
slipping into the dark, rippling water.
the legendary Bigfoot. Grant said that there are
When we stopped at the same
actual reports of Bigfoot sightings around this
little store on our way home, Grant Footprints in the
lake, and since he believes everything he sees
gave the cashier an elaborative mud by Grady Allen
on television, he begged me to join him in hopes
account of our amateur sighting experience. “Ah
of catching a glimpse of his own. On our way
well, little ‘dillo,” replied the cashier. “I’ll bet what
to the lake, we stopped at a small, local store
you saw there was a good ol’ gator. They’re
to buy some Cajun-seasoned grub snacks. With
common around these parts. It’s a good thing
a lively accent and smile, even the store cashier
he didn’t see you though… He might have tried
said, “Y’all be sure not to run into any monsters Photo by Steve Hillebrand, USFWS to eat ya’!”
out here!” I was pretty skeptical of the existence of any fabled
“It was an alligator?” Grant and I answered together. I
creature, until one night…
added, “The entire time we were at the lake, Grant was so
On the second evening of our camp, Grant and I were
focused on spotting Bigfoot and I was too busy laughing at him.
lured onto a forest trail by the loud sounds of singing cicadas
We came very close to meeting a real alligator and missed it!
and marsh birds. A warm breeze was slowly moving around
Grant, let’s go back to the lake and try to spot one… from a
the muddy banks, causing the long strands of moss clinging to
distance.”
the cypress trees sway like a floating green curtain.
We paid for our snacks and headed back to Caddo Lake. As
As we trekked along the trail, Grant just kept saying, “I bet
Grant put away his Bigfoot’s Favorite Hangouts book, I handed
we’ll see Bigfoot here. Yes ma’am, this is the PERFECT place
him my Eastern Texas Wildlife travel guide
for Bigfoot to live.” Because I was walking behind Grant, he
so that we could learn more about
couldn’t see that I was quietly laughing at him for being so
alligators and be prepared for a REAL
gullible. As the sun started making its way down behind the
sighting.
trees, the dense forest quickly became darker and the breeze
Later, y’all!
stilled. In an instant, Grant stopped abruptly, causing me to run
into him.
Nancy Nine-band
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Clothespin Alligator
What You Need:
"
Procedure:
1. Hold one clothespin open. Pinch a second clothespin over the top half of the other and glue it in place. The first clothespin will be
the body and the second clothespin will be the head.
2. To make the tail, attach the third clothespin to the back top half of the first clothespin and glue it in place.
3. To make the front legs, start by cutting the pipe cleaner into two equal pieces. Slide one piece through the body clothespin
toward the front end near the head. Bend the legs down and bend the ends to shape feet.
4. To make the back legs, slide the second piece of pipe cleaner through the hole between the top half of the body clothespin and
the tail. Shape the legs and feet as you did with the front
legs.
5. With either paint or markers, color the inside of the
alligator’s mouth pale yellow. Color the rest of the body a
mixture of black and green.
6. Glue an eye to each side of the alligator’s head.
Photo by Cara Bierschwale
2
word searches......
Scaly Search
Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com
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WORDS:
ALLIGATOR
REPTILE
CARNIVORE
RIVER
ECTOTHERMIC
SCALES
HIBERNATE
SWAMP
LAKE
TEETH
Photo by Grady Allen
Test Your Gator Sense IQ!
Adapted from TPWD’s “If You See an Alligator” (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/alligator/safety/index.phtml)
Directions: It is rare for an alligator to show aggression towards humans. However, it is good to know the DOs
and DON’Ts of alligator encounters. Answer each statement “True” or “False” and tally your score at the end.
1. If you see an alligator swimming in your pool, DO swim with it.
__________
2. If you hear an alligator hiss, DON’T move any closer to it.
__________
3. If you see an alligator while walking your pet, DO make sure your pet
is on a leash and under your control.
__________
4. If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO try to pick it up and move it
out of the way of cars.
__________
5. If you see an alligator, DON’T feed it.
__________
6. DON’T swim at dark when alligators like to hunt and feed.
__________
7. DO try to remove a baby alligator from its habitat and make it a pet.
__________
8. DO enjoy viewing and photographing alligators from a safe distance.
__________
How does your Gator Sense IQ measure up?
Number of Correct Answers
0-1 = Still Evolving
2-3 = Thinking Like a Reptile’s Brain
4-5 = Average Advanced Vertebrate
6-8 = Gator Genius!
(See the answer key on page 6.)
3
Photo by Rusty Ray
give it a try!
puzzles.....mazes.....oh my! go ahead.....
corner
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Robust Reptiles
By Cara Bierschwale
Photo by Grady Allen
Scientists believe that reptiles are survivors of the prehistoric ages. Roaming
the land with the dinosaurs, reptiles were some of the largest animals the world
has ever seen. Today, there are over 6,000 species of reptiles worldwide.
Members of the Class Reptilia, including snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises,
crocodiles, and alligators, are egg-laying vertebrates that have tough, scaly
skin.
Another important feature of this group is that they are ectothermic (coldblooded), which means that they cannot generate internal (inside) heat.
Instead, they must depend on external (outside) factors to keep their body
temperature within normal ranges. For example, reptiles may bask, which is
to lay flat and still in the sunlight to soak up the warmth. Or, they may press
their bodies up against a warm rock to feel the heat. They must also avoid
extreme heat by taking shelter during the hottest parts of the day. At very
low temperatures, a reptile’s bodily functions will operate at a reduced rate,
although this normally occurs only after the animal has chosen shelter in a
burrow or under rocks or when hibernating.
The taxonomic Order Crocodilia includes around 23 species of semiaquatic crocodiles, alligators, and gharials. These animals are believed to
have changed very little in the last 65 million years. The American alligator
(Alligator mississippiensis) is the largest reptile in the Western Hemisphere and
the only member of Crocodilia found in Texas. Once widely hunted for its skin,
this alligator became seriously endangered during the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Fortunately, strong state and federal legal protection and conservation laws
have allowed populations to increase, such as with the Texas Endangered
Species Act in 1973. In addition, enhanced wetland habitat conditions have
contributed to their comeback.
The Black Alligator
In Texas, American alligators can be found near freshwater rivers, lakes,
and marshes of around 120 counties in the eastern third of the state and along
the Texas Gulf Coast. Although they
are freshwater reptiles, alligators can
tolerate some saltwater habitats. It is
considered to be the least aggressive
of all Crocodilians, but the American
alligator is a very powerful reptile and
can reach lengths of up to 18 feet from
head to tail. It is mostly black in color
and has a large head with prominent
eyes, rounded snout, and up to 80
conical teeth at a time. Compared
with a crocodile’s, the alligator’s
snout is shorter, broader, and has a
characteristic large fourth tooth that fits
into a socket in the upper jaw rather
than stick out. It also has a heavily
plated back, webbed feet, and strong tail.
Photo by Rusty Ray
Stealthy Hunters
American alligators are agile swimmers, can move surprisingly
quickly on land, and have excellent sight, smell, and hearing. They
hunt in or near the water and will prey on animals of all kinds, including
birds snatched from low branches, fish, turtles, crustaceans, small
mammals, lizards, snakes, and even other alligators. They use various
techniques and adaptations when hunting, but the most common is to
lie in wait at the edges of rivers and lakes for small animals to come
within range to either drink or cross. In addition, alligators can drift
with only its eyes and nostrils above the water and can move within
striking distance without being seen. When hunting or holding prey
underwater, they can close off their external nostrils and the backs
of their throats to prevent water from entering and can hold their
breath for up to 45 minutes. Alligators must swallow their food whole
because they do not have molars to chew their prey and will break
larger carcasses into smaller pieces by holding them tightly in their jaws
while spinning violently underwater.
Gator Behaviors
Throughout most of the day, alligators prefer to float, partially
submerged, in the water of its lake, marsh, or swamp. As the water table
drops in midsummer,
however, alligators often
will wallow in water-filled
hollows called “gator
holes.” They will keep this
small body of water open
by digging out the sand
or mud at the bottom.
During winter months
and falling temperatures,
alligators will hibernate in
shallow dens.
Alligator in the water by Grady Allen
Both male and female American alligators are very active and vocal,
especially during the breeding and nesting season (May through July).
Males hiss when threatened and make throaty roars to attract females.
While courting, the male alligator will stay with the female for several days,
occasionally stroking her body with his forelimbs, rubbing her throat with his
head, and blowing bubbles past her cheeks. Mating takes place underwater
and the female will find a nesting site near water and begin nest construction
by scraping up available plant debris and mud with her body and tail. She
lays her eggs in the middle and covers the top with more vegetation. Her
giant nest – at times measuring up to 6 feet across and several feet high –
is a giant incubator warmed by the sunlight and
decomposing plant matter.
After about 2 months, the female alligator’s
clutch of 25-60 eggs will begin to hatch. When
she hears the calls of her hatchlings, she opens up
the nest to her “pod” of hatchlings. They measure
around 8 inches long, are black with bright yellow
cross-bands, and may stay with the female for 2-3
years. Like other baby animals, alligator hatchlings
will grunt when they are hungry, separated from
the female, afraid, or cold.
Baby alligators by Grady Allen
Close Encounters of the Reptilian Kind
Due to the expansion of human populations across Texas, there has been
an increase in the number of encounters between humans and alligators. As
with all wildlife, caution should be taken when an encounter occurs. Most
people in East Texas (“gator country”) will live in close proximity to these native
reptiles without ever experiencing a confrontation with an alligator. Alligators
typically avoid humans and the majority of them are spotted near human
habitation while “passing through” in search of a nesting site or territory.
There are rare occasions
when an encounter becomes
serious, however. If an alligator
establishes its territory around
people, usually in a subdivision
nest to natural habitat, it
may become considered a
“nuisance.” When an alligator
is threatening pets or livestock,
or the health and safety of
humans, it will need to be
removed or relocated by the
proper authorities.
Young alligator basking on a log by Rusty Ray
Sources:
Burnie, David. The Kingfisher Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Kingfisher Publications, 2000.
Burnie, David and Don E. Wilson. Animal. New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc., 2001.
Texas Parks and Wildlife. Gator Facts.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_lf_w7000_0488.pdf
Texas Parks and Wildlife. Wildlife Fact Sheets. “American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).”
http://www.tpwd.stste.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/americanalligator/
Whitfield, Dr. Philip. The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Animals. Great Britain: Marshall Publishing, 1998.
Hanging out in muddy water
by Grady Allen
Did you know...
…that the easiest way to tell an alligator and a crocodile apart is to look for lower front teeth
protruding out of a closed mouth? A crocodile shows these teeth, but an alligator’s teeth fit into
sockets in its upper jaw and they cannot be seen.
…that their teeth are replaced as they are lost, and an alligator may have 2,000-3,000 teeth in its
lifetime?
…that whether an alligator hatchling is male or female depends on the temperature of incubation
during the first 10 days of its development?
…that alligators have weak jaw muscles for opening their mouths, but the muscles which close
them are very strong – around 300 pounds per square inch?
…that wild alligators can live to be around 40 years old?
…that since it does not pant or sweat, a basking alligator may be seen with its mouth open as a way to cool its body
temperature down?
Cooling off by Grady Allen
Gator Sense Answer Key
1) F; 2) T; 3) T; 4) F; 5) T; 6) T; 7) F; 8) T
Color Me
American
Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
Long powerful tail
4 toes on
hind feet
Black-green
scaly skin
Broad head with rounded snout
Webbed feet
for swimming
Image from www.realisticcoloringpages.com
Photo by Rusty Ray
6
6 toes on
front feet
Article and Photos By Rose Cooper
Eastern Gamagrass
In scattered parts of the state, a very tall grass called Eastern gamagrass can be
found growing in moist soils of pastures and along stream banks. It is a native, Eastern gamagrass
Seedhead
perennial bunchgrass and can reach a height of about eight feet. You might
wonder why it’s called a bunchgrass. Well, a bunchgrass is a grass that grows in a clump with the stems reaching upward rather
than spreading along the ground and forming a sod, like the grass in many yards. The stems arise from large, scaly rhizomes,
which resemble overgrown roots. As the rhizomes grow out and away from the plant, the base of the plant tends to increase
in diameter. Eastern gamagrass can have plant bases as wide as four to six feet across. The thick rhizomes are strong enough
to help with soil erosion along stream banks by keeping the dirt from washing away. The stems are stout and flattened at the
base. The leaves come out of the base and are flat with a distinct midrib, which looks like a vein running down the center of the
leaf. The blades can be up to 30 inches long and approximately one inch wide with sharp edges. Birds use the old growth for
nest material and cover, while small mammals will use it for denning.
Resembling a Finger
The inflorescence, or seed head, of Eastern gamagrass is
an important identifying characteristic. Its scientific name,
Tripsacum dactyloides, helps to describe the inflorescence.
The origin of the genus name Tripsacum is unknown, but
some believe the first part of the word may be derived
from the Greek words ‘tripsis’, meaning durable, or ‘tripto’
meaning “rub or polish” which refers to the shiny surface
Rhizomes
Male spikelets
of the seed head. The end of the name is from the Greek
word ‘psakas’, which denotes “a grain or small piece broken off”. The species name
dactyloides can be broken into two words: ‘dactylus’, meaning finger, and ‘oides’ meaning resembling. How does the seed
head resemble a finger? Let’s take a closer look.
The seed head is made up of one to three spikes approximately six to twelve inches long and containing both male and
female spikelets. A spikelet is the basic unit of the grass inflorescence, or flowering part of the plant. Some grass spikelets contain
both male and female flowers, but with Eastern gamagrass, the male and female flowers are found on separate spikelets.
The male spikelets are paired and are found near the top of the spike while the female spikelets are
solitary and stacked at the bottom of the spike. As the spike matures, the male spikelets become
leafy in appearance and fall away. The female spikelets, however, become hard, bony, bead-like
structures called caryopses. When these stacked caryopses are mature, they eventually will break
apart at indentions that look like the joints of a finger. Eastern
gamagrass sets seed from April to November, providing food for
small mammals and deer.
Where did it all go?
Eastern gamagrass was once found in large natural stands, or
colonies, however these days they have become harder to find.
With a longer growing season than most grasses, some drought
Female spikelets
tolerance and some flood tolerance, it is no wonder that the
Caryopsis
early settlers considered it a high quality forage crop. Yet, as time
passed, pastures were turned into crop lands and since gamagrass was preferred by livestock it succombed to grazing pressure.
Before the early settlers, native animals, such as elk and buffalo, would migrate through an area grazing as they went along.
"#
%'
*
store carbohydrates for future growth. Overgrazing occurs when livestock graze the new growth to an extent that all of its
carbohydrates are used up and the plant dies. With proper grazing management, Eastern gamagrass will flourish. Did you know
Eastern gamagrass has been known to live as long as 50 years in the right conditions? How’s that for durable!
7
Wildlife is in
our nature.
You may know the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo hosts one of the most prestigious professional rodeos in the world.
You may also know we have one of the world’s largest junior livestock shows and that we support agriculture and education
to develop the youth of Texas. But did you know that we encourage responsible management and the use of our beautiful
Texas wildlife and natural resources through the Texas Wildlife Expo? Through interactive educational exhibits and hands-on
demonstrations that make learning fun for the entire family, you’ll see that our commitment to Texas youth just comes natural.
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