In The Pines: November 2010

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Cougars, Panthers, and Bears, Oh My!

In East Texas, just before dusk as the setting sun’s rays pierce through pockets of the pines, visibility is limited. If you are sitting in a deer stand, you will notice that with every passing moment your surroundings begin to fade and merge into darkness. The east Texas tales of black panthers screaming into the night, and cougars that drag mangled carcasses into trees enter the mind about this time, as you prepare to exit your stand. At 100 yards a dark shape fumbling beneath a game feeder can be hard to identify, but would most likely be presumed to be a feral hog. But take another look, and make a positive identification, because that dark hog-like shape could be a black bear!

Will east Texans greet the black bear with open arms or loaded arms, as the species attempts to naturally re-inhabit the land that they once roamed? Will history repeat itself, and east Texas residents exterminate the black bear once again?

Hunters should always make positive visual identification before shooting at anything as a general standard of hunting safety. Bears are often mistaken for feral hogs at first, however the fine for shooting a black bear cannot be mistaken! It would be less expensive to travel to Canada and pay a hunting outfitter than to be convicted of killing a Texas bear. The civil penalty for killing a black bear is a fine of $10,000 and could likely include jail time, but almost always includes probation and loss of hunting privileges. Bear hunting of any kind has been prohibited statewide in Texas since 1983.

The black bear once occurred throughout the state of Texas. Black bears were almost gone in Texas by the end of World War II because of unregulated hunting and habitat loss. For nearly a century, the bears were hunted and killed for their meat, fat for cooking and hides for tanning, as well as for the sport of competitive hunting. Decades ago, east Texas bear hunting even attracted the nation's top bear enthusiast, Teddy Roosevelt.

East Texas residents snuffed out the black bears in a short matter of time, but considered themselves champion hunters. One resident accumulated 305 black bear hides during his career. Another resident reported killing 182 black bears in only two years time. In 1906 the last mass killing of black bears was reported. During that year a hunter reported killing 118 black bears.

The black bear’s last stronghold was in the swamps and thickets of the Big Thicket Region.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has documented numerous reliable bear sightings in recent years throughout east Texas. Though there are no reported sightings in Houston County yet, there are reports of black bear sightings as close as Anderson County. TPWD has no way of knowing how many sightings go unreported each year. Photos of bears taken by motion-sensitive cameras have verified sightings.

Studies are also being conducted by researchers at Stephen F. Austin State University to better determine the distribution and population of black bears in eastern Texas.

East Texas possesses the elements for a good bear habitat, including food, cover and areas with few humans. There are about 12 million acres of undeveloped private and public land throughout East Texas.

Davy Crockett National Forest is located east of Crockett. The forest covers a total of 161,842 acres (252.9 sq miles) in two counties;Houston and Trinity Counties. The forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins. Davy Crockett National Forest is ideal terrain for a black bear to hide as well as thrive. It is simply a matter of time before the first black bear is seen meandering about through the bottom lands, beneath the pines in Houston County.

Black bears have been making a slow and natural return to Texas since 1984. Over time, black bears have the potential to replace or refill a gap in the ecosystem that they filled prior to their extinction in the area.

There have always been periodic but rare sightings of black bears in East Texas. There was a resurgence of sightings within the East Texas region that followed a release of 161 black bears from Minnesota by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, between 1964-1967, in an effort to boost populations of the species in Louisiana.

TPWD officials think most of the bears that have made their way to Texas are lone young males. Young male Black bears wander into Texas, then later females. Forced to leave a territory by older male bears, young males will roam hundreds of miles looking for suitable habitat and mates. The swamps, forests and thickets of east Texas have much to offer.

One popular misconception is that bears are being relocated and stocked in east Texas.

Nathan Garner, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's regional wildlife director for East Texas, stressed that is not the case.

"We are not going to bring bears in at all unless we had a fairly large (public) support," he said, adding that studies have shown general public support for the return of the black bear to East Texas.

The question is; are the wandering black bears just sewing wild oats and sightseeing? Or will they settle down and stay awhile?

“It all depends on the lady bears,” Garner said.

When a young male bear begins actively seeking a mate, it is a powerful driving force of nature. If he does not find a mate, he will travel as far as he must to find her.

While a young male bear is likely to roam 100 miles or more from his mother's range, female bears are not so adventurous.

At some point in the future, a decision to bring in female bears may be considered. However, extensive studies would have to be made prior to such an event. Stocking may be unnecessary as bears continue to move slowly and naturally into the forests of east Texas from adjoining states where there are growing, expanding or stable black bear populations.

A committee of stakeholders comprised of representatives from state, federal, and private entities collaborated to develop the East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan and form a coalition group called the East Texas Black Bear Task Force(TBBTF). The East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan adopted by TPWD in 2005 uses a partnership approach to facilitate the recovery of black bears in eastern Texas through cooperative efforts.

“This plan was produced in the spirit of conservation for the Specific strategies addressed in this plan strive to promote public awareness through outreach while providing public and private biologists and willing landowners with the technical knowledge to increase and/or enhance suitable black bear habitat throughout East Texas. The purpose of re-establishing the bear is a viable part of the native wildlife community of East Texas.,” according to the mission statement of the East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan.

Black bears are usually reclusive and solitary animals that shy away from human contact, but with more bears coming into East Texas, it is possible that hunters or campers could encounter one. Bears are primarily vegetarians, feeding on blackberries, grapes, acorns, leaves and other forest vegetation. People are more comfortable with the return of the black bear, after realizing that 90% of its diet is vegetarian. However, black bears are opportunistic feeders and their diets change with seasons. However, no confrontations between bears and people have been reported.

Bears are still rare in Texas and very few Texans have ever seen one here, and is unlikely that you or someone you know will ever encounter one. Black bears go to great lengths to avoid humans.

Even so, never approach a bear. If you do happen to encounter a black bear at close range in the wilderness of east Texas, do not panic. Do not run either, says the TPWD Black Bears in Texas brochure. Back away slowly, with arms overhead to increase the size of your appearance, talk firmly and in a low-pitched voice. If a bear stands on its hind legs, it is not preparing to attack. It is trying to see, hear and smell you. NEVER approach a bear cub.

Public opinion surveys of residents in several Texas counties show general support for the return of black bears, while also indicating a need for more easily available information about bears.

If you happen to encounter the elusive Black bear, call TPWD. One of the bear plan’s goals is to resolve human-bear conflicts. If you see a bear, or have a bear problem, call your TPWD game warden or wildlife biologist or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) 792-1112.

Anyone can receive the recently created brochure “Bear Safety in Mind” from TPWD by calling the following regional offices nearest you: East Texas/Tyler- (903) 566-1626.

2010 Lone Star Loop

On Friday, Oct. 15, a fleet of antique and classic vehicles, as well as vintage hotrods and muscle cars made their way into Crockett, just in time for dinner at Tchoupitoulas.

The 3rd annual Lone Star Loop 1,000 is a planned four-day scenic tour of Texas. During the four day non-competitive scenic tour participants travel 1,000 miles in their antique and classic vehicles, or vintage hotrods and muscle cars along a planned route to take in the grandeur of the Lone Star State, at their own pace.

The 2010 tour, “El Camino Real De Los Tejas Tour,” followed a winding route throughout East Texas. The classic convoy followed parts of the early Spanish routes of the “Royal Highway” and “Old San Antonio Road,” through early outposts and missions of East Texas. The 1,000 miles of scenic touring spanned through 28 counties, 81 towns, and steered clear of all interstate highways.

Approximately 30 participants pulled out of Weatherford, Wednesday, Oct. 13, and headed to Temple for lunch. The 2010 tour had a total of 52 participants, several of which they collected along the way.

The group then proceeded to Bastrop, home of the “lost pines,” where they stayed overnight, as they wrapped up day one of the tour.

Paul Fort, director of Lone Star Loop 1,000, said the group received a great reception in Bastrop. The city opened four restaurants downtown for the group, and locals gave the oral history of the city.

“It’s been kind of a slow year,” said Fort of the tour so far. “Chambers haven’t been very active.”

Fort contacts city chambers of commerce prior to the tour, and in turn chambers generally support the tour by arranging for tour participants to take in local scenery and history, or by providing gift baskets with memorabilia from the city. According to Fort several chambers did not participate even after they had initially agreed.

On Day Two the group pulled out of Bastrop and struck out for Hearne, where the local pee-wee football team and parents prepared barbeque. The group then headed north for Houston County, where they planned to have dinner at Tchoupitoulas, in Crockett.

The parade of classic cars turned heads in Crockett, and left locals wondering where the cars were headed.

Dennis and Patty Kaiser, and Dave and Nina Kirk, all of Grandbury, enjoyed the atmosphere of Tchoupitoulas, as well as their brief visit to Crockett.

“We’re having a blast and this town is delightful,” said Patty Kaiser.

The two couples from Grandbury were on their second tour with the Lone Star Loop 1,000. Last year the couples toured the Gulf Coast, as far south as Rockport.

The group did not have much information pertaining to Houston County or the city of Crockett when they arrived, but left Tchoupitoulas armed with a taste of history from the first county in Texas, and historical sites to keep an eye out for along their journey to the next town.

“That’s what I love about these tours. You get to see things people don’t normally get to see, unless you are from that neck of the woods,” Kaiser said.

The group pulled out of Crockett Saturday morning and headed down the El Camino Real for San Augustine on Day Three of their schedule. After lunch in San Augustine, the group travelled to Jefferson for dinner, and an overnight stay.

On the fourth, and final day of the scenic tour, the group left Jefferson and headed for Athens, for one last lunch before returning to Weatherford.

“The beauty of this thousand mile loop is that you end up where you started, and not a thousand miles away from home,” said Kaiser of the scenic tour that her and her husband, and friends Dave and Nina Kirk have enjoyed being a part of for the last two years.

Plum Crazy Texas Weather

Larry and Sue Fleenor, formerly Houston-area residents, retired in Grapeland nine years ago. They have enjoyed the home they chose to retire in, and learning about its history, but not in their history on the property have they seen their fruit trees in full bloom so late in the year.

Plants and trees do not have the luxury of referring to a 12-month calendar as humans do, and therefore they tend to get confused from time to time. Occasionally, weather conditions can trigger the internal clocks of Texas vegetation, causing striking, but out-of-season blossoming.

The Fleenors noticed Oct. 27 that one of their plum trees had been fooled by Mother Nature into thinking Spring was in the air. The Fleenors have two plum trees, but only one fell for the trickery.

“This little plum tree is so confused,” said Sue Fleenor.

According to the Fleenors this particular plum tree produced fruit during the spring months, of which Mrs. Fleenor turned into plum jelly. Spring is the typical blossoming season for plum trees. Mrs. Fleenor also said, the tree in bloom also dropped its leaves long before the other plum tree.

In most cases, fruit trees that flower out-of-season are under stress of some sort. Extended periods of drought, followed by bands of rain, and cooler temperatures is the most common source of stress to vegetation in the area, according to Dr. William Johnson, a horticulturist with the Galveston County Office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas A&M System.

That chain of events is enough to spark confusion in plant life, however the chain reaction brought on by the weather also came at a time when the seasons are in transition in East Texas. Plants also determine when to bloom or when to shed their leaves by measuring the hours of darkness that occur in a 24-hour period.

The likelihood of fruit trees producing a healthy crop after prematurely blooming out of season, is slim. If the tree does produce fruit, it will likely be less than normal. According to Dr. Johnson, when a fruit tree puts forth a full flush of blooms the tree’s energy reserve is drawn down, thus a reduction in bloom will likely follow in the Spring.

Texas weather is known for its predictable unpredictability. Texans joke about the constantly changing weather with the statewide phrase, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. It will change.”

The heat that accompanies the Summer months is about the only predictable facet of Texas weather. In Texas snow may fall on Easter, or Christmas day could be hot enough to wear shorts.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

East Texas Weatherlore: Psychic Persimmons

With Fall in full swing and Winter approaching people are curious about what Mother nature has in store. If the Doppler radar bores you or if you enjoy a bit of folklore, there are other ways to predict the weather.

Persimmon trees grow throughout Texas and the U.S. Persimmons are small fruit trees that rarely grow as high as 40 feet. The dark wood of the tree and edible fruit have been used for centuries. The trees are very hardy and will grow in almost any climate, from sub-tropical to very cold.

Folklore reveals that superstitions about cutting persimmon trees may help cure warts, cancer and even predict weather, even Texas weather.

According to old-timers, persimmon seeds can be used to predict the severity of upcoming winter weather. A persimmon seed when cut in two pieces, split along its natural seam, will display one of three symbols; a knife, a spoon, or a fork.

If a knife shape is revealed within the seed the approaching winter is believed to be cold and icy. The anticipated cold wintry weather is believed to “cut through you like a knife,” as some might say. If a split persimmon seed reveals a spoon the area is believed to be expecting wet conditions, snow, and lots of it. The spoon is suggestive of a shovel that can be used to dig out of the snow. If a persimmon seed reveals a fork the legend indicates the approaching Winter will be mild, and could perhaps be accompanied by a light feathery snow.

The 2010 Farmer’s Almanac gave its persimmon report from N.C. in late September. The N.C. seed reveled a spoon.

Elana Goolsby has a large persimmon tree in her pasture. She does not harvest the fruit, nor does she pay it much mind. She commonly forget the tree is there until someone who passes by about sunrise in the late fall calls to inform her that a large buck is feeding on the persimmons.

After harvesting multiple persimmons from Goolsby’s tree in order to take a peak at what winter weather may be in store. It is said that the seed outcome varies depeding on the region from which the fruit is harvested.

Five seeds were split and observed. Each seed revealed a spoon. According to legendary folklore and Goolsby’s persimmon seeds East Texas can anticipate more of the flaky white stuff, and we aren’t talking about dandruff.

Persimmon fruit was once a much sought after delicacy used for breads and puddings by our nation’s forefathers and Native American Indians. Now persimmons are more of a curiosity and a nuisance.

The ability of this seed to predict winter weather is one way to for us to reconnect to the foods of our past. “Weatherlore,” like that of folklore, has been handed down from one generation to another. “Lore” predictions for winter weather seem as popular today as they were years ago.

Other “Weatherlore” suggest winter will be colder if heavy crops of berries are found on holly and dogwood trees, rolling thunder is heard echoing in the late fall, trees shed their leaves before their color change is complete, and if chimney smoke flows toward the ground.

Still others derive their prediction from the forest animals of East Texas. It is said that if squirrels build their nests low and gather food early, ants build their mounds abnormally high, or if birds are seen migrating early or huddling on the ground one should anticipate a harsh winter. Some also believe that if a turkey breast bone, cooked in the fall, turns purple or dark blue the winter will be more severe than usual.

Wintry folklore weather predictions vary, but it appears the most popular, regardless of where people live in the U.S., revolves around the Banded Woolly Worm. Often called a woolly bear or fuzzy bear, the woolly bear caterpillar, which is the larval stage of an Isabella Tiger Moth, is supposed to forecast a mild winter if its middle band of reddish brown is wider than the two end bands of black, and a hard winter if it is narrower.

Weather information is provided by the National Weather Service, Regional Weather Centers, and Local News Stations. Citizens are fortunate to have these sources for weather information, and should rely on the accurate and timely information these sources provide.

Nevertheless, folks have been making weather predictions long before weather specialists and the sophisticated equipment they utilize came into play. Years ago, and for many years, people relied on signs from nature to guide them and predict upcoming weather.