Class IV Sheep

Last week at the Lado, a Class IV Desert Bighorn Sheep was seen watering.  Through conservation projects on the ranch, the number of sheep has increased and the ranch was given a permit in 2010 and 2011.  Trail cameras near the guzzlers like this one  allow us to see a number of sheep, whether they be lambs or Class IV rams when they come to water.

Mountain Lion Tracking on the Lado

That paw could do some real damage.

Last week, a mountain lion was caught in a snare on the Lado.  Texas Parks and Wildlife tranquilized the lion and added a GPS tracking collar to follow the 130-pound lion's movement throughout the area. 

The sedated lion.

Putting the muzzle on--pretty key for the night's work.

A lion in the Davis Mountains has been followed and is only eating Aoudad, an African invasive sheep.

The snared lion.

Notice the size of the lion compared to the biologists!

It will be really exciting to follow the lion throughout the ranch and West Texas.

A gorgeous cat ready to roll.

Invasives Control at Wexford

Steele, Kai, Christian, and Miles

It's Cowboy Camp at Wexford.  For two weeks every summer, the grandchildren come to the ranch to learn about ranching and conservation.  They also spend time in the offices too, learning about finances and the oil industry.  It's a great way to give the kids a taste of what's to come.  It's not all work at Cowboy Camp, though.  The kids made a little dent in the pig population this week.

Miles, Christian, and Kai

Feral hogs cause over $400 million dollars in damage to farms and ranches in Texas yearly.  It's a good thing they're so delicious!

Aoudad on the Lado

Aoudad are sheep that are native to the mountains of Northern Africa.  They were introduced some years ago in West Texas and reproduced rapidly.  They also prevented Desert Bighorns from reproducing, therefore, they are a nuisance and have mostly been eradicated on the Lado Ranch.

Last month, Quint and Byron Burris, of Victoria, Texas, shot this aoudad on the Lado, a treat for a non-native species.