Not so long ago, one of the best-known reptiles in Texas could be found in just about every part of the state. Now conservationists are hoping to bring them back.
AUSTIN, Texas — About 100 miles west of Austin in Mason County, there are some new arrivals: baby horned lizards, known to generations of Texans as “horny toads.”
They were abundant in the past, but the population has declined sharply over the past 50 years due to habitat loss, pesticide use and the spread of invasive species like the red imported fire ant.
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That’s why introducing the baby lizards that were hatched at zoos in Fort Worth and Dallas to start a new life in the Hill Country is a big deal. Since 2017, more than 3,000 juvenile horned lizards have been released at Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas horned lizard is a threatened species, making it illegal for the public to handle or possess one without proper permits.
The lizards’ biggest enemy has been aggressive fire ants that have displaced many native ant species that form the backbone of the horned lizards’ diet.
Efforts are now underway to control fire ant populations in the lizards’ habitats.
Researchers use lightweight harmonic tags on hatchlings, attaching them with a small amount of adhesive that allows the tag to fall off naturally within weeks. Adult lizards are fitted with small radio transmitters, temporarily secured with eyelash glue so they can be removed periodically to replace batteries.
These tracking methods allow scientists to study survival rates, movement patterns and habitat use without causing harm to the animals.
It’s an all-out effort to return the iconic horned lizard to the Texas landscape. And so far, conservationists say they are hopeful that it will happen.