Wildlife Management Developments April 3, 2024

Crockett, Texas has had quite a bit of rain over the past few weeks thus making Wildlife Management Services challenging. To date, all the feeders haven't been filled and all the nest boxes haven't been labeled but rest assured knowing that Jesse and Christina Hamilton are caring for your land by waiting days in between the rain in order to prevent damage to your property by their equipment. Here are some great photos of the work they are doing on your lots for you.

While taking care of the bird feeders and nest boxes on your properties, Jesse and Christina documented extensive Feral Hog damage. "A single feral hog can significantly disturb around 6.5 square feet in just one minute" according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Such destruction damages forests, causes erosion, threatens native wildlife, are predators of eggs and can cause costly damage. Removal of these invasive and highly destructive feral hogs is part of acceptable wildlife management.

Thankfully, Jesse Hamilton is trained in trapping feral hogs and transporting them to a USDA and TPWD certified facility. He has agreed to help our community this weekend by trapping these destructive feral hogs. Please be aware he will be on site in our community working on our behalf to care for our land. We are deeply appreciative of all of Jesse's efforts to do this valuable service at no additional cost to landowners or the POA. THANK YOU JESSE!

The active growing season is upon us a little early this year given the extra rain for which we are thankful for. Jesse Hamilton will be in our community next week mowing the road easements which is one month earlier than previously planned and noted. This additional mowing will be covered by your POA dues.

If you are planning to mow on your property this year, it is suggested that you utilize strip mowing in order to create edges for the wildlife thus providing shelter, food, a place to nest and hide from predators. April through August is nesting time for wildlife and though I realize that having access to your properties is vital to you as landowners, it is also vital for the wildlife.

The POA President is recommending you use what is called strip mowing which is similar to the graphic above with cut strips and uncut strips but they do not have to be straight lines, nature rarely exists in straight lines. If all property owners choose to mow in this manner it will encourage a rich habitat of beneficial insects, birds, bees, and wildlife. As the landowner you may want the first 25-50' from your front property line to be cut in a "traditional lawn cut" fashion thus allowing you the aesthetic of a well cared for lawn mixed with the areas farther back that are strip mowed to support vital wildlife.

Please know that this is not a "requirement" in the current CC&R nor a "requirement" from the POA, but rather a "recommendation" from the POA President for those landowners who do want to participate. Jesse Hamilton is familiar with this mowing technique and his contact info is available from the POA President upon request. Finally, any mowing on landowner land is an expense of that landowner and not the POA.

DON'T FORGET!