Texas sites will benefit from wildlife habitat project

A project will be implemented soon to improve habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife on more than 550,000 acres of Texas national forests, grasslands and wildlife management areas.

Partners in a Master Challenge Cost Share Agreement signed this week include the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Forest Service. The five-year agreement calls for each partner to contribute $125,000 to create a shared biologist position and oversee the completion of projects that will improve wildlife habitat on at least seven Texas sites.

The projects include:

■Improving more than 1,000 acres of prairie lands — home to native warm-season grasses that provide turkey nesting and brood-rearing habit at the Pat Mayse Wildlife Management Area near Paris.

■Improving brood habitat on Alabama Creek WMA near Apple Springs.

■Restoring blackland prairies and improving brood habitat at Sam Houston National Forest near Livingston.

■Restoring longleaf pine and overseeing moist soil management at Alazan Bayou WMA near Nacogdoches.

■Removing Eastern Red Cedar and restoring native warm-season grasses at the Fannin Unit of the Caddo National Grasslands in Fannin County.

■Constructing wildlife watering facilities, improving turkey roost habitat and removing salt cedars at the Matador WMA near Paducah.

■Improving roost habitat, constructing wildlife watering facilities and controlling brush at the Gene Howe WMA near Canadian.