Two friends bought a 225-acre overgrazed Texas ranch that could support little beyond cattle; after restoring 100+ acres of prairie, planting 3,000 sand plums and adding a 5-acre wetland, wildlife returned

The two friends, who were hunting partners, decided to change how the land was managed.

When Jim Willis and John Webb bought a 225-acre ranch near the San Bernard River in Texas in 2000, the land had little wildlife left. Years of overgrazing had left the property in poor condition, and the pasture could support little beyond cattle.According to Houstan Chronicle, the two friends, who were hunting partners, decided to change how the land was managed and bring back native plants and create better habitat for bobwhite quail and other wildlife.The ranch, known as WW Ranch, had been dominated by grasses that were commonly planted for cattle but did not provide the habitat needed by many native species. Willis and Webb began replacing these grasses with native varieties, including little bluestem and switchgrass.Their work eventually changed the ranch from a ‘wildlife desert’ into a place where quail and other grassland species could live. The restoration also connected wildlife habitat across neighbouring properties.

Rebuilding the habitat

The first steps were not simple. Willis and Webb removed cattle from the property for a period so the existing non-native grass could grow. They then carried out a prescribed burn and applied herbicide. A second prescribed burn was later used to remove dead grass.In early winter, they planted native grasses and waited. Some of the grasses took more than a year to appear. Once the native vegetation had become established, cattle were brought back to the ranch.The cattle still had a role in managing the restored grassland. The small herd helped prevent the grasses from becoming too dense or too tall, while the animals’ hooves also helped replant seeds.Willis and Webb also planted 3,000 native sand plum trees to provide woody cover for quail. They also added forbs, plants that produce seeds and attract insects. Insects are an important food source for quail hens and young chicks. The duo also enlarged a small, shallow pond to create a five-acre wetland area.According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the work at WW Ranch included native prairie restoration on more than 100 acres, planting 3,000 native sand plum trees, creating a five-acre wetland and installing bird nesting boxes. The ranch also developed seven ponds and a pipeline distribution system for cattle and wildlife.

Bale Buster Dispersing Native Grass Seed on WW Ranch

Wildlife makes comeback

The changes were followed by the return of wildlife. Quail and 30 other species of grassland birds returned to the property, along with deer, ducks and migratory songbirds.The return of bobwhite quail was particularly important because the species is considered an indicator species. It means their population can reflect the condition of an ecosystem and the availability of suitable habitat for other grassland birds.Quail need grasses and plants that provide places for nesting as well as woody cover that can offer protection from predators, wind and heat.At WW Ranch, Willis said the property had developed a healthy population of about one quail per acre without any attempt to restock the birds.That success also convinced Willis that restoring one ranch alone would not be enough. He began approaching neighbouring landowners to create a much larger connected area of habitat.

Bobwhite quail is considered an ‘indicator species’.

Restoration expanded

Willis spent two years knocking on doors before another landowner agreed to transform their property. The idea gradually developed into a plan for a wildlife corridor linking neighbouring ranches with the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.By 2008, 28 landowners had joined the project. Their properties ranged from 42 acres to nearly 8,000 acres. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Audubon Texas were also supporting the effort with financial incentives and technical assistance. The goal was to create more than seven miles of connected, open habitat for grassland wildlife.Large working cattle ranches can provide space for native species, but dividing such land into smaller properties can make it harder for wildlife to survive.“Habitat is the key,” Kyle Brazil, a Texas Audubon biologist who worked with Willis, told the Houston Chronicle. “Where land is managed well for quail, it’s managed well for all grassland birds.”Convincing other landowners was not always easy. Some were concerned about the cost of temporarily removing cattle and carrying out prescribed burns.Willis explained that restoration could also provide practical benefits for ranchers. The Houston Chronicle reported that the work at his ranch cost about $100 per acre, with maintenance estimated at $5 per acre.Native grasses meant he did not need to buy fertiliser or hay, while the restored land could help with water and soil erosion. Willis said the land acted like a sponge when it rained and helped replenish aquifers. Income from cattle grazing and hunting leases could also help offset restoration costs.