Landowners, ranchers, and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to attend Big Bend Basics: Birds, Bears, and Beef on Friday, August 8, at Sul Ross State University in Alpine.
The program will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Room 130 of the Turner Range Animal Science Center. Attendees will receive two Integrated Pest Management CEUs. The event is open to the public with a $10 admission fee at the door. Lunch will be provided by Capital Farm Credit.
Organized by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and partners, the day will feature presentations by regional experts covering birding, black bear awareness, wildlife-livestock conflict management, and cattle industry updates.
The agenda includes:
- 9:15 AM: Dr. Maureen Frank, Borderlands Research Institute – Birding in the Big Bend
- 10:00 AM: Rachel Connally, Texas Parks and Wildlife – Bear Awareness for Landowners: Black Bear History and Behavior in Trans-Pecos Texas
- 10:45 AM: Austin Bohanon, TPWD – Bears in the Landscape: Impacts on Livestock and Human-Wildlife Conflict Management
- 11:15 AM: Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension – Unraveling the New World Screwworm: Biology, Impact, and Control
- 12:30 PM: Dr. Bruce Carpenter, AgriLife Extension – Beef Industry Updates
- 1:00 PM: Dr. Silverio Avila, AgriLife Extension/BRI – How the Landscape Plays a Role in Wildlife and Livestock Habitat
RSVPs are requested by July 25. The event will conclude at 2:00 p.m. For more information, contact your local AgriLife Extension office.
