I was lucky to have been able to get a firsthand look at White Ranch, located in Mason County Texas, and the conservation work being done there. On this day I was most interested in the Horned Lizards and excited for the opportunity to see them in the wild. This is a story about our journey on August 28th 2024.
I had heard about the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area working on reintroducing Texas Horned Lizards back into the Texas Landscape a few months ago and I became very interested. Learning about White Ranch happened when I saw a post on Facebook from Brian Wright and I contacted him. We discussed my interest in photographing the “Horny Toads” along with the people who are working to save them. Brian affectionately calls them, “sweethearts of the rodeo”. He was very accommodating and happy for me to come photograph the native Texas Horned Lizards at White Ranch. Brian put me in touch with Kira Gangbin, a Ph.D. student with Texas Christian University. Kira is currently overseeing the Texas Horned Lizard Project at White Ranch. Kira and her team are studying the lizards in their natural environment to help in the larger project of breeding and reintroducing these fun creatures back into nature with numbers as they once were. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Fort Worth Zoo, Caldwell Zoo, Dallas Zoo and Pearland Nature Center are all working together on the breeding and then releasing of the Texas Horned Lizard here in central Texas.
My husband, Warren, and I drove onto the ranch. As we approached the house where ranch manager, Brian Wright, lives with his wife and of course their many animals, we saw Brian along with two donkeys, two horses, three dogs and a cat all in the yard starting their day. Pretty cool! Kira, Brian, Warren, our tour guide Gabi and I set out on Brian’s Kawasaki Mule for our journey to find the great Texas Horned Lizard! On this ranch over 100 Horned Lizards reside!
Kira and Brian know where the lizards hang out. To aid in our search Kira has equipped some females with a tracking device, giving the scientist the extra advantage of tracking and studying them. These tags are easily removed and do not bother the Horned Lizards. They are seen in the pictures here. Also shown in the pictures is a lizard dropping and notice all of the Harvester Ants contained in it. Harvester Ants are a primary part of the adult Texas horned lizard's diet.
The first Texas Horned Lizard we found was a super model and did not seem to be bothered by us too much. I worked to get as close as I could, laying on the ground and getting eye to eye! Laying down on the ground in our part of Texas is not for the faint of heart. Lots of prickly things, bugs and plants alike!
We then decided to give this little lady a break and go to a different spot, and I was able to get some great portraits of Kira, Brian and of course Gabi! Brian and Kira have a TPWD Permit for handling the lizards, otherwise it is illegal to handle these cute little guys because they are protected. The Texas Horned Lizard has been classified as threatened in the state of Texas since 1977!
As we were driving on through the ranch Kira spotted a Texas Horned Lizard sunning in an opening next to the road. We stopped there and while we were admiring the Horned Lizard a Jack Rabbit came by to say “Hi”.
White Ranch is doing a great job to protect the environment and the creatures who call this home. Leasing the land for cattle grazing with an approach to keep the grasslands healthy is another way to keep the ranch sustainable, allowing 1 cow per 30 acres. White Ranch consists of 9500 Acres with 600 Deer, 288 head of cattle, over 100 Texas Horned Lizards and countless other native critters. What a great place!
White Ranch was started in 1888. JR Nicholson was the 3rd generation on the ranch and his daughter Elizabeth Nicholson King is the 4th generation on the ranch. Buddy the Ranch Dog was JR’s faithful companion and second most famous dog to come out of Mason County. First was Old Yeller. As the story goes, Buddy the Ranch Dog jumped on the outside step of the ambulance carrying his best friend JR from home to the emergency room. He road about 18 miles until a car flagged the ambulance down to tell them about Buddy riding outside. Then Buddy got to ride inside the ambulance with his friend JR the rest of the way. A remarkable love story.
I would like to thank Brian Wright and Kira Gangbin for sharing their expertise and spending the morning with Warren and myself. I love the work being done here to help take care of our world. And I must say, the day would not have been complete without our wonderful tour guide Gabi, playing catch with Baby Cakes and seeing Zeus guarding the front porch.
