By Richard Schaffhausen
The Brazoria chapter of Texas Master Naturalist held their monthly meeting Wednesday morning, December 11, at the AgriLife building in Angleton. Melanie Hollenshead, intern training director, reported the spring intern class will begin February 1, 2025. For more information, please contact the Training Director, Melanie Hollenshead, at theladyspath@hotmail.com or 979-292-5084.
John Boettiger, membership, reported Sheree Muzny attained the 1,000-volunteer hour milestone. The following members recertified: Jerry Eppner, Mike Hampy, Denis James, Paula Hanson, Chris Kneupper, Ruby Lewis, Carolyn May-Monie, Sheree Muzny, Glen Cullinane, John O’Connell, Kyle Purvis, and Donna Rich. Members must have 8 hours of advanced training and 40 volunteer hours to recertify. Through November, members impacted 8,485 adults and 25,808 youth through outreach programs and educational programs such as the “Birds of Prey” programs presented at area schools, Brazoria County Summer Library Programs, and the Discovery Environmental Education Program for area 4th and 7th graders at Brazoria NWR.
December’s speaker was John Boettiger, whose topic was “Hands-on experience with Whitetail Deer and other critters in Texas.” Boettiger stated that Texas’s deer population is 5 million plus, which is 50 percent more than any other state. Blanco County and the surrounding area have the densest deer population in the state.
He explained how deer management decisions made by ranchers who manage deer populations affect the overall populations on their property. The chapter learned that a Doe would stay within a 400-yard circle from where she was raised, barring a crisis such as a fire. A male will roam five miles. On inland ranches, salt licks are needed for a healthy population. Members learned hunters shooting mature deer benefit the overall population as deer’s teeth wear down after eight-plus years to where they can no longer eat, resulting in starvation or predation.
The next meeting is 6 pm on January 8 at the AgriLife building 21017 County Road 171, Angleton. The public is welcome to attend.
