WHAT’S NEW

25

Feb
The Borderlands Research Institute is conducting extensive research on a private ranch in Brewster County, Texas, where nearly 150 trincheras have been strategically implemented. This study assesses soil accumulation at trinchera sites over two years during the monsoon season.

20

Feb
Aaron Ortega-Gonzalez is fortunate to have mentors in his life. As a child, Aaron was inspired by his uncle, who managed the family’s small ranch, which was located in the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico.

06

Feb
After a successful Water in the Desert conference in January, Sul Ross State University officials are working to enhance the university’s influence regarding water issues in West Texas.

22

Jan
International student Masahiro (Masa) Ohnishi had no idea how attending Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas would affect the trajectory of his career.

03

Jan
This article, published in the Hunter's Horn, the official publication of Houston Safari Club, takes readers along for a hike with a Borderlands Research Institute black bear researcher! READ HERE

11

Dec
Through a multiyear partnership with Apache Corporation, researchers at BRI and Texas Native Seeds, a project of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M Kingsville, will investigate methods to improve habitat restoration efforts in the Permian Basin with the goal of publishing a science-backed, best practices reclamation document to be shared with other Permian operators.

04

Dec
$2 million grant will fund conservation efforts on private land in West Texas through Borderlands Research Institute programs.

13

Nov
Two Texas universities are partnering with state and federal agencies to study the transboundary movements of black bears and mountain lions along the U.S.-Mexico border in southwest Texas.

13

Nov
In this podcast, we discuss cost share programs available for West Texas landowners interested in conservation and improving wildlife habitat on their property.

06

Nov
To restore streams, conservationists look to their grassland headwaters The land west of the Pecos is Texas at its wildest. But this rugged terrain has also been profoundly altered by human actions, and the starkest impact may be the loss of flowing water. Across our region, once-perennial streams are now steep-banked arroyos, bone-dry except during flash floods. Reviving streams will require a broad vision, one that takes in the root causes of their decline. A new initiative aims to do just that, ...

30

Oct
Seventeen students at the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University have been selected to receive $122,750 in scholarships from eleven different sources, including nine scholarships awarded through a special fundraising effort celebrating BRI’s 15th anniversary.

26

Oct
West Texas Black Bears Slowly Returning Researchers are trapping black bears and affixing GPS tracking collars to study the bruins in West Texas, where numbers are small but growing. Article by Alan Clemons Black bears in the far West Texas region are being studied by Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, both of which are encouraged for the continued return of the species. Black bears are rare in the Lone Star State, after significant declines during the ...

23

Oct
Registration is now open for Water in the Desert, a first-of-its-kind conference about water in the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas taking place at Sul Ross State University on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

16

Oct
The Borderlands Research Institute, Rio Grande Joint Venture, and Dixon Water Foundation are teaming up to roll out the Alamito Creek Conservation Initiative in Far West Texas.

02

Oct
Check out this podcast from Houston Safari Club Foundation featuring BRI Researcher Dr. Amanda Veals Dutt! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hunting-matters/id1519068446?i=1000629735306 Black Bears in Texas with Amanda M. Veals Dutt, PhD Amanda M. Veals Dutt, PhD, Carnivore Specialist and Research Scientist, Borderlands Research Institute, Sul Ross State University. Dr. Dutt is the Carnivore Specialist and post-doctoral Research Scientist at Borderlands Research Institute. Her research focuses on the spatial ecology and interspecific interactions between mammalian predators, such as black bears and mountain lions, and their prey. Her research ...

11

Sep
A habitat enhancement project six years in the making is coming to fruition on the 22,000-acre Decie Ranch, located between Alpine and Marathon in the Big Bend region of West Texas. 

23

Aug
Now streaming at OurTexasOurFuture.com/stories   Thirty years ago, a pioneering black bear crossed the Rio Grande, made a home in Big Bend National Park, and successfully raised cubs—the first to be born in Texas since the early 1900s! Texas’s black bear population has slowly grown ever since, expanding back into their historic habitat in the deserts of West Texas. While most Texans welcome their return with open arms, bears can have impacts on agriculture that need to be better understood.   Researchers at Borderlands ...

22

Aug
The goal of this research is to better prepare wildlife biologists who work alongside oil companies with management strategy advice tailored to the Permian Basin to continue sustaining quail populations in this area of Texas.

21

Aug
Brooke Bowman always knew she wanted to study the natural world around her, and that's just what she's been doing.

21

Aug
In our latest podcast, Dr. Louis Harveson, Dr. Carlos Gonzalez and Dr. Justin French reflect on the evolution of BRI’s students, faculty and research projects.

16

Aug
Borderlands Research Institute scientists will collaborate on a portion of research with Texas A&M University at Kingsville (TAMUK).

03

Aug
Borderlands Research Institute hosted members of the I-20 Wildlife Preserve Summer 2023 Conservation Job Corps for a field day at The Nature Conservancy Davis Mountains Preserve.

03

Aug
The Texas Farm Bureau has been highlighting the ongoing initiatives to study aoudad, desert bighorn sheep, and mule deer interactions in West Texas.

17

Jul
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is pleased to announce the establishment of a new endowment fund that will support big game research into the future. John L. Nau, III, who lives in Houston, made a $400K gift to honor his daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and Parker Johnson.

10

Jul
Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University in Alpine is launching a scholarship fundraiser for its graduate students. The fundraising goal is $50,000 with all proceeds going directly to scholarships for students working on conservation research for their master’s degree.

13

Jun
Come along on a virtual field trip with the Borderlands Research Institute Land Stewardship team and Dixon Water Foundation and see habitat management projects in-progress!

22

May
Researchers convened over a three-week period beginning in February of this year to place satellite tracking collars on a total of 306 animals across the five species, for three research projects. These projects will provide information about how mule deer and aoudad compete for food and habitat, as well as what role aoudad play in disease transmission to desert bighorn.

18

May
Suzi’s work explores themes of sustainability through intimate drawings and prints that portray fine details of flora and fauna expanded in dreamy layers.

16

May
This study uses models to examine two possible issues affecting Montezuma quail in the Davis Mountains of Jeff Davis County, West Texas.

16

May
BRI graduate assistant Caitlin Camp has known since she was a child that she wanted to work in a nature-related field.

15

May
BRI researchers discuss adventures in Montezuma quail research in the latest episode of Borderlands Buzz podcast.

01

May
Carl Ryan fell long and hard for the Davis Mountains when he was just 10 years old. Decades later, that part of West Texas remains close to his heart. After reflecting on all the time his family has spent immersed in the best the region has to offer, he and wife Suzi Davidoff decided to honor those connections by giving back to Sul Ross State University—the place that ties it all together.

25

Apr
Two San Antonio women, Roxana (Roxie) Catto Hayne and Ruthie Bowman Russell, were honored on April 12 for their conservation contributions in West Texas at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) second annual West Texas Conservationists of the Year award ceremony.

10

Apr
The Center for Land Stewardship and Stakeholder Engagement at Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University has streamlined its application process for cost share conservation programs. Cost share programs reimburse a percentage of the overall cost of qualified conservation practices to selected landowners. Interested landowners can now apply through one convenient portal that will remain open year-round. Applicants will be considered for any open programs. “We’re pleased to make it easier for West Texas landowners to access funds that will help ...

20

Mar
Learn about quail research in the Trans-Pecos from Dr. Ryan S. Luna, the Sul Ross State University Department Chair of Natural Sciences and the Borderlands Research Institute Kelly R. Thompson Professor of Quail Research.

28

Feb
BRI researchers discuss the new and ongoing black bear research project in this episode of Borderlands Buzz podcast.

28

Feb
Texas Monthly featured Borderlands Research Institute's ongoing black bear research project in a feature article called West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Read online here.

23

Feb
Borderlands Research Institute Researcher Dr. Maureen G. Frank was featured in a recent Heart of the Big Bend podcast about birding in the Big Bend.

21

Feb
The Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network spotlights the Borderlands Research Institute's ongoing black bear research in a four-part radio series.

13

Feb
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is expanding its team with the addition of two new hires in January 2023.

31

Jan
Communities in the Big Bend are on the frontline of the black bear’s re-expansion into Texas. As such, these residents will set the standard on how to deal with black bears in the state. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hosted a workshop to discuss living with black bear in West Texas.

09

Jan
A comprehensive multiyear study on black bears is underway in far West Texas. The project, Understanding Natural Recolonization of Black Bears in West Texas, is led by the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University.

12

Dec
If there was a contest for the most interesting man in the world, photographer Tim McKenna would almost certainly be in the running.

08

Dec
Marfa Public Radio featured the Borderlands Research Institute in a Nature Notes episode.

14

Nov
Thanks to support from Quail Coalition in Texas, the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University will conduct the first-ever research to determine the population of Montezuma quail in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.

31

Oct
Dr. Ryan Luna, the chair of the Department of Natural Sciences Sul Ross State University, and the Kelly R. Thompson Professor of Quail Research at Borderlands Research Institute, is the first recipient of the Outstanding Scholar Award. The annual award recognizes outstanding research or artistic achievement.

26

Oct
Given the importance of Big Bend National Park for biodiversity and habitat protection in the Trans-Pecos ecoregion, the distribution of species in the park has been well-studied. However, it is also important to monitor changes in the distribution of species over time and to gauge what factors within the park may contribute to change, such as increased visitation use and climate change.

26

Oct
BRI graduate assistant Caitlin Camp has known since she was a child that she wanted to work in a nature-related field.

24

Oct
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) is now accepting applications for its Greater Big Bend Conservation Partnership program. This is a cost share program that will reimburse approximately 50 percent of the overall cost of qualified conservation practices to selected landowners in Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties in West Texas. The application period will be open from Oct. 24–Dec. 22, 2022, and applications are available online.

20

Oct
KRLD's Mitch Carr speaks to Dr. Louis A. Harveson, the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Endowed Director of BRI about conservation in the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas. Listen to the full interview here.

03

Oct
Dr. Louis A. Harveson, the founder and director of the Borderlands Research Institute, has been named the Associate Provost of Research and Development at Sul Ross State University.

03

Oct
The 2022-2023 academic year marks the 15-year anniversary for Borderlands Research Institute (BRI), which was launched at Sul Ross State University (SRSU) in the fall of 2007. Since then, the organization has been a key player in collaborative wildlife research in the Trans-Pecos while offering meaningful graduate projects for students enrolled in the Natural Resource Management program at Sul Ross.

26

Sep
Seven graduate students at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University have been selected to receive $46,500 in scholarships from seven different sources, including the first ever scholarship awarded from the Wes and Victoria Bannister Scholarship and the Wayne and JoAnn Moore Endowed Scholarship.

25

Aug
Lindy Cook Severns is a fulltime artist who lives in West Texas, painting the landscapes she loves.

24

Aug

21

Aug
The 2022 Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference held at Sul Ross State University August 4-5 drew about 175 attendees for a full day of speakers and panel discussions and optional half-day field excursion to view habitat restoration techniques. The conference, co-hosted by the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI), Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been offered about every four years since its inception in 2002. Themes of partnership, habitat restoration and holistic land management were repeated throughout the event, ...

28

Jul
Black bears have made a comeback to the Trans-Pecos. Learn about this interesting animal and the ways to prevent negative encounters in this episode of Nature Notes, featuring Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists Krysta Demere and Michael Janis. The Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference, co-hosted by the Borderlands Research Institute, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Wildlife Association, features discussions on black bears and other Trans-Pecos wildlife management topics.

28

Jul
Here’s the latest on grant-winning university teams (Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, and Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua in Chihuahua, Mexico) supported by Fundación Banorte, led by Banorte Chairman Carlos Hank González, Fundación Gruma and the U.S. Department of State as part of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund.

25

Jul
Borderlands Research Institute Big Game Ecology and Management Specialist Justin French, PhD, speaks with Marfa Public Radio's Nature Notes for a special episode discussing aoudad research.

18

Jul
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and the Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) are joining forces with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement landscape-scale conservation initiatives across the Trans-Pecos region in West Texas. The effort is fueled by a $3.5 million commitment from the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which will help fund innovative conservation approaches on private lands, including habitat restoration efforts, conservations easements and ecosystem services.

14

Jul
Erin O'Connell, a graduate research assistant at the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University, is studying the movements and behaviors of pronghorn while conducting a Pronghorn Restoration Behavior project.

11

Jul
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI), housed at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, hosted students from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH), a Mexican public university located in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico. Students from the Animal Science and Ecology programs at UACH learned about BRI research projects along with other regional conservation initiatives.

11

Jul
For the Borderlands Research Institute, Ranching Heritage is the Key to Conservation.

28

Jun
Pronghorn once occupied nearly all of Texas, but their range is much smaller today, in part due to drought, restrictive fencing, and anthropogenic expansion, all of which contribute to habitat loss. In 2011 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) began a tremendous long-term program to restore pronghorn in the Trans-Pecos, partnering with Borderlands Research Institute, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF), landowners, and other conservation organizations to monitor and learn from these efforts.

28

Jun
A passion for stats and bats led Erin O’Connell on a winding path to Alpine and the Borderlands Research Institute.

13

Jun
For the first time since 2016, the Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference will be held at Sul Ross State University from August 4–5 of this year. The event will be co-hosted by the Borderlands Research Institute, Texas Wildlife Association, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

06

Jun
The Borderlands Research Institute and the Borderlands Research Foundation honored Houston businessman John L. Nau, III, with the inaugural West Texas Conservationist of the Year award on May 25, 2022. The award was presented at a special event at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston. Nau has impacted all corners of the country through his conservation vision. Among his myriad accomplishments, he currently serves on the boards of the National Park Foundation, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the American Battlefield Trust ...

19

Apr
Enjoy this conversation with Caroline Korbell Carrington and her husband William Carrington, two artists who appreciate and, are inspired by, the Big Bend and wildlife conservation.

19

Apr
Caroline Korbell Carrington and her husband William spend a lot of time in West Texas making art that depicts the landscapes and wildlife they love.

12

Apr
Nearly one hundred attendees gathered to hear a roster of experts for the first Summit on Healthy Lands and Energy Development at the Horseshoe Arena in Midland on April 6. The one-day summit was organized by Respect Big Bend, a coalition dedicated to responsible energy development in West Texas, in partnership with Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. The focus of the summit was on finding a balance between energy development and land conservation practices, with energy ...

17

Mar
A new Center for Land Stewardship and Stakeholder Engagement has been established at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University. The new center will facilitate conservation efforts in far West Texas by providing technical resources for landowners, energy developers, community members and conservation partners. “We’re very pleased to launch the Center for Land Stewardship and Stakeholder Engagement here at the Sul Ross State University,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, who is the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., BRI Endowed Director and professor ...

15

Mar
The Borderlands Research Institute is inviting those who are interested in how best to minimize the impacts of energy development on natural resources in far West Texas to attend a Summit on Healthy Lands and Energy Development that is scheduled in Midland on April 6, 2022. The summit will explore ideas for reducing potentially negative impacts of energy development through collaborative, voluntary projects that engage landowners, community leaders and energy companies.

22

Feb
Desert bighorn sheep and mule deer have experienced widespread declines in distribution and abundance in the Texas Trans-Pecos. While translocation efforts have been successful in reviving these species, the ongoing expansion of aoudad populations across the region have raised concern for native species survival. Similarities in physiology and native range suggests potential niche overlap (and potential competition) between aoudad, desert bighorn sheep, and mule deer may occur.

31

Jan
Earl Nottingham has been entranced with photography since he was a kid. His brother gave him a Polaroid Swinger camera when he was ten, and he stalked the neighborhood cats as his photo subjects. In junior high a friend’s dad owned a photography studio and showed him how a film negative was developed into a print in a dark room.

31

Jan
The West Texas Chapter of Safari Club International has made a $10,000 donation to support two wildlife research projects underway at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University.

27

Jan
Daniel Wilcox has always had an innate curiosity about how the world works and how natural systems work together. He grew up in Forney, Texas, hunting and fishing, and was also involved in FFA and agricultural-related pursuits all through high school.

27

Jan
For over 40 years, Earl Nottingham has been telling the story of Texas and much of the American Southwest through his photography.

13

Dec
Zoe Carroll has been influenced to pursue a wildlife-related career for her entire life. “My family did several cross-country camping trips when I was little, and we visited national parks across the United States,” said Carroll. “My mom loved to birdwatch and we enjoyed being outdoors and seeing all of the wildlife in our national parks.”

13

Dec
For more than three decades Mary Baxter has made a living as a successful artist, producing hundreds of works inspired by the desert landscapes of West Texas. She has always been interested in art, but after she graduated from college, she didn’t think it could be a viable career.

07

Dec
For more than three decades Mary Baxter has made a living as a successful artist, producing hundreds of works inspired by the desert landscapes of West Texas.

15

Nov
Thanks to a generous donation from a longtime supporting donor, the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) is enhancing West Texas habitat research efforts that will benefit native wildlife. John L. Nau III has committed $1 million over the next five years to support BRI’s Habitat Enhancement Project.

08

Nov
The West Texas Chapter of Safari Club International has made a $10,000 donation to support two wildlife research projects underway at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University.

01

Nov
Seven graduate students at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University have been selected to receive $34,000 in scholarships from five different sources, including the first ever Women in Conservation Science Scholarship from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF).

28

Sep
While the small towns of the Big Bend region all share a strong sense of community, they also boast an individual culture expressed through a strong appreciation of music and arts. Culture, Music and Arts are unique to the residents and visitors of the Big Bend region, and therefore were identified as a shared core conservation value of the region by the Tri-County Stakeholder Advisory Group of the Respect Big Bend coalition.

17

Sep
Filmmaker Ben Masters believes in the power of a documentary to affect hearts and minds. He has crafted a career making films specializing in wildlife and adventure stories. Take a listen to this conversation between Bem Masters and Dr. Louis Harveson.

17

Sep
Clay Brewer has been chasing bighorn sheep since he was 11 years old. “My dad spent a lot of time with me and my brothers outdoors,” said Brewer. “We lived in Utah, and I can remember spotting a sheep for the first time and asking my dad if I could chase him. I spent that entire day following in its path. I’ve been chasing bighorn sheep ever since.”

15

Sep
Filmmaker Ben Masters believes in the power of a documentary to affect hearts and minds. “I like to equate it to going to church,” he said. “It’s one of the only places that you have to turn off your cell phone and pay attention to what’s in front of you. A filmmaker can weave the power of a story, music, visuals and emotional flow to just captivate you. It’s a powerful tool that can show people things they wouldn’t normally ...

13

Sep
The Chihuahuan Desert is the largest desert in North America, covering close to 200,000 square miles in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. It encompasses the entire Greater Big Bend region of Texas and is one of the most diverse, arid regions in the world with an extraordinary array of both plants and wildlife.

30

Aug
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are partnering to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners interested in restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat on their land.

27

Aug
The Big Bend region is reminiscent of a lost era and tends to attract people who want to escape the hustle of the city and who value a slow-paced, quality-filled life. Community, Safety and Quality of Life are so important to the people of the area, that these three aspects of West Texas life were identified as a single, shared core conservation value of the region by the Tri-County Stakeholder Advisory Group of the Respect Big Bend coalition.

09

Aug
The values that locals cherish about the Big Bend region of Texas are the same values that draw people to visit this area. Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to the tiny towns of West Texas each year, supporting numerous local businesses, which employ many West Texas residents. In fact, tourism has become a primary economic driver for the Big Bend region.

02

Aug
If there is one term that best describes the topography and biology of the greater Big Bend region, it is diverse. High mountain ranges erupt from sparse desert floors, with grasslands interspersed in the low to mid elevations, and water sources scattered throughout. The high desert ecosystem found in the Big Bend region is not only unique and beautiful, it is also essential for the wildlife and people who live here.

28

Jul
As desert bighorn sheep restoration continues in Texas, desert bighorn sheep are now potentially threatened by aoudad distribution and population increase. This study evaluated the use of artificial water sources, documenting seasonal and temporal usage by aoudad and desert bighorn in a coexisting area.

23

Jul
Helping landowners make the best decisions about how to effectively steward their properties is a key focus for the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University. That’s why BRI is helping to bring a special workshop to West Texas.

23

Jul
Jose Etchart’s parents came to the United States from their native Chihuahua, Mexico, for the same reason that has drawn immigrants to America for centuries. “They were looking for a better future, for themselves and their family,” said Etchart. “Just trying to find the American dream.”

15

Jul
Getting away and taking time for yourself is important. Many people get away and take a break from a busy life by connecting with nature. Catching a sunset in a peaceful location, camping outside to see the night sky away from city lights, or just being alone in the quietness can soothe the soul. In a highly populated state like Texas, finding a truly remote experience can be difficult. Fortunately, there are still places to “get away from it all”—none ...

06

Jul
When people think of West Texas, they might think about hiking through Big Bend National Park or checking out the Marfa Lights. What many might overlook while they visit is the incredible heritage of West Texas ranching families, the spectacular properties they steward, and the private property rights they value. This heritage is the foundation for all that we treasure about the Big Bend region.

23

Jun
The Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are partnering to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners interested in restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat on their land.

08

Jun
Residents of West Texas are invited to attend a free webinar on June 16 from 12:00-1:00 pm to learn more about the recently completed report issued by the Respect Big Bend coalition. Finding Common Ground: A Conservation Vision for the Big Bend Region will feature a discussion laying out the results of the Respect Big Bend project.

27

May
The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) plays an important role in maintaining ecological integrity in western grasslands. A 2010 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department inventory of prairie dog populations revealed that their range has decreased in the southern and western boundaries of their historical range within the Trans-Pecos region.

24

May
Prairie dog conservation can be a controversial topic, but the more we learn about them, the more misperceptions can be dispelled. In our latest Borderlands Buzz podcast, Dr. Bonnie Warnock and Cullom Simpson discuss Cullom’s recently completed research project, and more.

24

May
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and ConocoPhillips has awarded a grant of more than $180,000 to the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) for a grassland restoration project that will benefit wintering grassland birds in the Trans-Pecos.

20

May
By the time Cullom Simpson was in middle school he knew exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up. “When I first met him, he was just a kid,” recalled retired Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist Rufus Stephens. “I had never met somebody at that age with that kind of passion for wildlife. He knew he wanted to be a wildlife biologist and he was willing to do anything to help him achieve that goal.”

13

May
At the end of April, Borderlands Undergraduate Mentorship Program (BUMP) students gave presentations about the projects they have been working on this past year. The purpose of BUMP is to better retain and prepare undergraduate students for serving in the natural resource and agriculture industries. This program is supported by Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the many organizations that fund BRI projects.

29

Mar
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University and the Big Bend Conservation Alliance are teaming up to spread the word in the Big Bend region about Lights Out Texas. Lights Out Texas is a state-wide initiative that asks Texans to turn out or dim non-essential lights to support fall and spring birds during their migration, when hundreds of millions of birds will be passing through the state. “We were able to involve a great lineup of speakers, and ...

23

Mar
Josh Coward grew up in the small central Texas town of Harper, near Fredericksburg. His upbringing was a little more unusual than that of his Hill Country neighbors...

01

Mar
West Texas landowners and residents are encouraged to lend a hand in conserving the birds of the Trans-Pecos. A new publication Water for Wild Birds: Tools for Arid Landscapes is now available to help folks who enjoy seeing birds provide the resources they need so birds can thrive in the Chihuahuan Desert.

25

Jan
Growing up in a little town in Michigan north of Detroit, Emily Card knew from a young age that she wanted a career working with animals. “Every summer we went to our family cabin and I would run around the woods with my little sister,” she said. “We loved watching the birds and wildlife and I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

14

Dec
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund. The grant will facilitate an enhanced partnership between the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University and the Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecología at the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. The collaboration will provide opportunities for students and faculty from both universities to learn to effectively manage shared natural resources in the Chihuahuan ...

30

Nov
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University launched a new series of outreach events this year to connect people with birds. The Borderlands Birding Bonanza field trips attracted birders of all skill levels from all over Texas. A recent field trip took place near Marfa at the Dixon Water Foundation’s Mimms Unit. Listen in on our latest podcast with BRI grad students Alejandro Chavez Trevino and Emily Card, and Philip Boyd with the Dixon Water Foundation to ...

09

Nov
Populations of quails in Texas have declined over the past few decades due primarily to habitat loss. However, the role that parasites may play in such declines has been largely dismissed. To help address this, we collected scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambellii), and Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) from across the Trans-Pecos ecoregion of Texas via hunter-harvest, funnel trapping, and nightlighting.

09

Nov
Trey Johnson has learned how to roll with the punches. Halfway through his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M, he realized he didn’t want to become a veterinarian anymore. After a visit with a guidance counselor, he pivoted to a Wildlife and Fisheries Science degree and quickly realized he had found his niche. For a year before he graduated, he worked as a wildlife technician for Texas A&M AgriLife Research Extension working with bobwhite quail, which ignited an interest in upland ...

06

Nov
It’s fall and it’s bird migration season in West Texas. Many people are itching to get out and find unique birds heading south for the winter. However, sometimes the greatest places to view birds are hard to get to. Which is why the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI), the Dixon Water Foundation, and the Shield-Ayres Foundation launched a new program, Borderlands Birding Bonanza, to connect people with birds. The first Borderlands Birding Bonanza event was held on Oct. 24 and 25. ...

06

Nov
The Respect Big Bend (RBB) coalition wrapped up their fall 2020 seminar series hosted by the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) via webinar. Despite the pivot to online events due to COVID-19, participants remained engaged in the process. “We were able to involve a great lineup of speakers, and that really helped attract participants to the webinars,” said Billy Tarrant, BRI Associate Director of Stewardship Services, who led the effort to organize the seminar series. “Despite the change from in-person seminars to ...

05

Nov
A major research focus for the Borderlands Research Institute is desert quail. There’s a lot of research attention on bobwhite quail, but little available research on scaled quail, Gambel’s quail and Montezuma quail. Listen in on our latest Borderlands Buzz podcast to hear more about BRI’s quail research efforts.

27

Oct
Birding enthusiasts of all skill levels are invited to attend Borderlands Birding Bonanza events in West Texas on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15. The birding field trips will take place at the Dixon Water Foundation’s Mimms Ranch near Marfa. The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University launched the new series of outreach activities in October to connect people with birds through its Bird Conservation Program. The first event, held Oct. 24-25 at Alamito Creek Preserve in Presidio ...

05

Oct
Residents of West Texas are invited to attend a free webinar on Oct. 22 from 6:30-7:30 pm. “Conservation Values and Strategies for the Last Frontier” will feature a discussion about how the greater Big Bend area is special from both a natural resource and cultural value standpoint and what strategies can be applied to conserve these values. The seminar will feature two experts from the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University, Dr. Louis Harveson and Billy Tarrant.

26

Sep
A new scholarship has been created at the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University by the family of Franklin and Virginia Law to honor their lives and celebrate the family’s long ranching history in Brewster County. Franklin and Virginia Law spent a lifetime together stewarding the West Texas ranch that had been in the family for generations. Virginia’s grandparents, David S. and Eleanora Combs, established the ranch in Brewster County in 1900, where cattle have been raised ...

26

Sep
Six graduate students at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University have been selected to receive $66,000 in scholarships from four different sources, including a new endowment fund established earlier this year. The newly created Franklin and Virginia Law Scholarship honors the legacy of a West Texas family that has been ranching in Brewster County for more than a century.

26

Sep
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is launching a new series of outreach activities to connect people with birds through its Bird Conservation Program. The “Borderlands Birding Bonanza” will kick off Oct. 24-25 with a birding field trip to Alamito Creek Preserve, a Dixon Water Foundation property in Presidio County, south of Marfa. There are 40 slots available for a series of birding tours that will focus on riparian birds.

23

Sep
The Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University is conserving the last frontier of Texas and the Southwest through research, education and outreach. Our new podcast, “Borderlands Buzz,” features the latest news and views from our faculty, staff, students and partners. Listen in on our first edition, featuring BRI Director Dr. Louis Harveson.

21

Sep
Residents of West Texas are invited to attend a free webinar on Oct. 8 from 6:30-8:00 pm. “Landowners, Energy Development, and Conflict: Finding Common Ground” will explore how landowners and energy companies can work together to find solutions when conflicts occur. The webinar will feature experts in the field, including Dr. Chase Currie with San Pedro Ranch in South Texas, David Yeates with the Texas Wildlife Association, and Chris West with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

18

Sep
She didn’t realize it at the time, but Kelley Wood has been charting her career course since she was a little girl. She grew up on a farm outside of Victoria, Texas and raised livestock through her school’s 4-H program. Her family also participated in a wildlife habitat evaluation project through the 4-H program.

31

Aug
Residents of West Texas are invited to attend a free seminar on Sept. 16 that will explore Development by Design, where energy and conservation meet. Seminar attendees will hear from subject matter experts Joseph Kiesecker with The Nature Conservancy and Melinda Taylor from the University of Texas. The seminar, which was originally scheduled in March, was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. The Sept. 16 event will be presented via webinar.

13

Jul
Thanks to the Dixon Water Foundation, the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) will enhance a songbird conservation program that will connect landowners, birders and the public through community engagement activities. The $25,000 grant will fund field trips focused on birds and implement a citizen science project that will monitor bird populations on private ranches.

06

Jul
The Trans-Pecos region of Texas has four species of quail: the scaled quail, Gambel’s quail, Montezuma (Mearns) quail, and northern bobwhite. Currently, little research regarding parasites has been conducted in the Trans-Pecos; however, it is thought that parasites could be influencing range, health, reproduction, and survival of scaled quail, Gambel’s quail, and Montezuma quail in the region.

06

Jul
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has awarded a third six-figure grant to the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) for a grassland enhancement project in Marfa and Marathon. The funds will be matched dollar for dollar by private sources including funds from landowners and dollars raised by BRI, doubling the impact of the grant. The recently approved $250,000 grant was preceded by two similar grants in 2018 and 2019.

25

Jun
Childhood visits to Texas state parks led Rachel Bittner to choose an education and a career path involving wildlife. “My parents started taking me camping before I could walk,” said Rachel. “We camped and hiked and fished in state parks across Texas. I learned to love nature, wildlife and the outdoors by just being outside with my family.”

23

Jun
The seminar series got underway in January 2020, but three of the seminars were cancelled—one due to weather and the others to the COVID-19 pandemic. The seminar series is being rebooted for the fall with new topics and speakers. The seminar series is designed to engage a broad constituency of Big Bend community members to better inform them on recent energy projections, potential impacts on communities and conservation values, and to develop creative strategies to conserve the unique resources ...

19

May
Texan by Nature, a Texas-led conservation nonprofit, recently announced that the Respect Big Bend Coalition has been named a 2020 Conservation Wrangler. Texan by Nature’s Conservation Wrangler program is recognizing six innovative conservation projects across the state of Texas for their science-based and results-driven approach to conservation along with their ability to positively impact people, prosperity and natural resources.

05

May
In a year of “many firsts,” Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (CDRI) announced the first time it has broken tradition and awarded four scholarships, vs. the customary two. Three of the four recipients this year are graduate students at the Borderlands Research Institute: Jacob Locke, Rachel Bittner, and Alex Chavez.

27

Apr
When you are a professor who teaches wildlife management courses to undergraduate and graduate students, you get used to things not always going as planned. Wildlife doesn’t always cooperate. A field research day might get rained out. A hypothesis might not pan out as a student expected. So, when the world turned upside down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Borderlands Research Institute’s (BRI) Dr. Ryan Luna took it all in stride.

06

Apr
In the Marfa grasslands of Far West Texas, volunteers contributed over 1,600 hours toward grassland bird captures this winter. We had volunteers from all over Texas, and 15 volunteers from Chihuahua, Mexico!

02

Apr
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University was well represented at the annual Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting that was held in February in Corpus Christi. The meeting draws wildlife professionals from across the state who gather to learn from each other through workshops, research presentations, and networking.

18

Mar
Alex Chávez Treviño has been trying to explain to his family what he studies at school since he first went to college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and Genomics from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Mexico in 2016...

09

Mar
POSTPONED. Please note that the March 18 seminar described in the news release below that was issued on March 9 has been postponed. We will update you when the postponed seminar is re-scheduled.

17

Feb
The panoramic horizon was broken by a red Robinson R44 helicopter. Below it, precious cargo. Two of the Chisum Ranch’s many pronghorn dangled under the chopper like wind chimes. The pronghorn came in for a soft landing, and a group of wildlife professionals quickly huddled around them...

11

Feb
The Meadows Foundation is providing a $100,000 grant to the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) to support the work of the Respect Big Bend Coalition in West Texas...

28

Jan
This Spring at the Sul Ross State University Espino Conference Center in Alpine, Texas, a series of four seminars will be held to address energy development in the greater Big Bend Region...

08

Jan
For many years BRI has partnered with TPWD to study translocated desert bighorn sheep populations throughout the Trans-Pecos. With this project we are looking into the differences among resident, hard-, and soft-released populations...

07

Jan
“I knew a job that had me inside all the time would not be a good choice. I started investigating careers that had to do with animals and being outdoors. ... so when I found out about what wildlife biologists did, I knew that was it.” ...

20

Nov
This Spring at the Sul Ross State University Espino Conference Center in Alpine, Texas, a series of four seminars will be held to address energy development in the greater Big Bend Region...

20

Nov
Over 140 people attended to learn about what landowners can do when loss and fragmentation of private lands are at stake due to mineral rights, eminent domain, estate taxes, and shifting family roles...

04

Nov
With partners from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and the Dixon Water Foundation, BRI has been studying two grassland-obligate bird species, Baird’s sparrow and grasshopper sparrow...

01

Nov
“One of the things that has really motivated me is the number of accomplished women scientists at the Borderlands Research Institute...I never thought a woman could have a career in this field until I came to Alpine." ...

28

Oct
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded a second six-figure grant to the Borderlands Research Institute for a grassland enhancement project in Marfa and Marathon...

08

Oct
On November 14th at the SRSU Espino Conference Center, Texas Agricultural Land Trust and Borderlands Research Institute are partnering to host Saving Working Lands: Preparing Landowners for Energy Development...

04

Oct
To understand why mule deer numbers struggled, researchers with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Cemex and Borderlands Research Institute conducted a restoration project in the BGWMA and a neighboring ranch...

04

Oct
Currently a Natural Resource Specialist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Deparment, Kiddo Campbell is also a graduate student at Sul Ross State University and is wrapping up his thesis project on mule deer restoration...

20

Sep
Permian Basin Area Foundation is providing a $300K grant to the Borderlands Research Institute to support stakeholder engagement and outreach as part of the Respect Big Bend Coalition...

01

Aug
“I feel incredibly privileged to get to do what we do.... Helping to bring back one of Texas’ most iconic big game species to its native range is a pretty cool feeling.”...

01

Aug
In the Trans-Pecos, carrying capacity estimates are needed to assess how many pronghorn the habitat can sustain. We are also studying how different cattle grazing regimes affect pronghorn forage...

12

Jul
BRI is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Carlos (Lalo) Gonzalez as Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Management and the Nau Endowed Professor in Habitat Research and Management...

03

Jun
While most landowners enjoy seeing mule deer, concerns about crop damage have increased, raising many questions about the relationship between mule deer and agriculture...

03

Jun
Jacob Lampman learned to love wildlife and nature at his grandfather’s knee...

06

May
As Associate Director for Stewardship Services, Tarrant will develop and implement outreach activities including landowner workshops, stakeholder meetings, and research symposia...

15

Apr
Barbara Sugarman grew up in sunny San Diego and spent as much time outdoors as she could on the public land trail system adjacent to her neighborhood...

15

Apr
Prairie dogs are often underappreciated animals; usually considered pests, this species helps uphold a healthy ecosystem...

04

Mar
The $400,000 endowment honors John Poindexter, a founding advisory board member for BRI, who has long been a champion for West Texas...

16

Jan
Michael completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management at Sul Ross in 2015 and is now working toward his master’s degree...

15

Jan
Thanks to a $1 million gift, the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) has endowed a Conservation Biology chair at Sul Ross State University...

28

Nov
It is almost that time of the year again where we kick off our grassland bird captures...

28

Nov
The Texas State University Board of Regents honored Dr. Louis Harveson with a prestigious Regents’ Professor Award at their board meeting earlier this month...

28

Nov
Since the early 1990s, scientific researchers (and less-scientific Sasquatch hunters) have used infrared-triggered camera traps as a low-cost tool for recording animal activities at all times of the day and night...

20

Nov
BRI graduate student Maribel Glass is thrilled to be studying range and wildlife management at Sul Ross State University. You could say she’s been dreaming about it for most of her young life...

24

Oct
The Texas Agricultural Land Trust, along with the Borderlands Research Institute and other local partners, will host a landowner seminar in Alpine...

19

Sep
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) has received a $75,000 donation from Park Cities Quail to support scaled quail research...

18

Sep
Nine Sul Ross State University students from the fourth annual Borderlands Research Institute Undergraduate Mentorship Program presented their research findings on Friday, Sept. 14...

14

Sep
Army veteran Howell Pugh’s path to Borderlands Research Institute has been a circuitous one. After high school he worked with his father at the family’s auto repair shop in Arlington, Texas...

11

Sep
The Houston Safari Club Foundation has awarded $39,000 in scholarships to seven Borderlands Research Institute students. The scholarships are part of the foundation’s Dan L. Duncan Scholarship Program...

28

Aug
The Texas Ornithological Society has awarded a $6,000 grant to the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) to purchase radio transmitters for a grassland bird research project...

20

Aug
The Texas State University System Board of Regents announced the selection of Sul Ross State University’s Dr. Louis Harveson as a winner of the 2018 Regents’ Professor Award, the System’s highest faculty honor...

07

Aug
Where can kit fox be found in Texas? That’s the research objective of a Borderlands Research Institute study currently being conducted in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas...

26

Jun
Matt was accepted into the program in 2018, and his thesis work is focused on determining distribution of kit fox in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas...

26

Jun
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant to the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) for a grassland enhancement project in Marfa and Marathon...

30

Apr
Froylan Hernandez loves his job. As Desert Bighorn Sheep Program Leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Froylan leads one of the most successful wildlife conservation efforts in Texas...

17

Apr
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is pleased to announce the largest philanthropic gift in its 10-year history. The $1.5 million gift will fund a new Nau Endowed Chair in Habitat Research and Management at BRI...

08

Mar
A new scholarship has been created at the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University by the family of Virginia Matthews Law, whose family has operated a ranch in West Texas for more than one hundred years...

07

Mar
Growing up in Chihuahua, Mexico, Denis Josefina Perez-Ordoñez remembers the government campaigning to create awareness about water issues and developing water conservation regulations...

24

Feb
Several Sul Ross State University Range and Wildlife students won awards and scholarships at the 54th annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, held Feb. 9-11 in Dallas...

21

Feb
Graduate researchers from Sul Ross State University’s Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) are assisting with a five-year, collaborative mule deer study with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and two other state universities...

15

Feb
It’s dawn in late January, near Marfa, and the grasslands on Mimms Ranch are radiant, swaying like a thick, golden mane in the sporadic breeze...

13

Feb
The Borderlands Research Institute will have a booth at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s (HLSR’s) Ranching and Wildlife Expo, Tuesday – Saturday (27 Feb – 3 Mar 2018)...

08

Feb
Nineteenth and early 20th century naturalists found them “fantastic,” “curious,” “bizarre.” The male’s face is marked by swirls of black and white – and with their wild patterning, they were called “harlequin quail,” “fool quail,” “crazy quail.”

15

Nov
Mountain lion research conducted by the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is featured in a short film produced by Texas filmmaker Ben Masters that is an official selection of National Geographic’s short film showcase...

08

Oct
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is marking ten years of collaborative efforts to conserve one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world: the Chihuahuan Desert in the borderlands of West Texas...

26

Sep
The Wild Texas Film Tour is coming to 13 Texas cities through November! Two of the films feature BRI research projects. The tour features Texas wildlife, adventure, and conservation short films along with characters from the films...

15

Aug
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas has announced that Dr. Ryan Luna has been appointed to the newly created Kelly R. Thompson professorship in quail research...