Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System
  |
News Release for Dec. 20, 2011TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, SUL ROSS CONTINUE BIGHORN RESTORATION by Steve Lang, News and Publications Zero to 1,500 in 50 years.
And Sul Ross State University, working with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) and the Texas Bighorn Society, hopes to eventually double that total. Last week, a collaborative effort of the participating groups resulted in the helicopter capture of 95 desert bighorn, 76 ewes and 19 rams from Van Horn area ranches. All the captured bighorn were processed for data collection and to determine general health. Forty-three animals were radio-collared. They were then transported to Big Bend Ranch State Park. Froylan Hernandez, TPW bighorn sheep project manager and a Sul Ross graduate, noted that desert bighorn sheep vanished from West Texas by the late 1950s or early 1960s. “The last recorded sighting was in the Sierra Diablo region in October 1958. They were gone by the 1960s,” he said.
Restoration efforts began over 50 years ago, starting in Black Gap. Desert bighorn were brought in from other states to begin. By 2000, surplus animals were located to other sites. “The population is back up to about 1,500 in eight mountain ranges,” Hernandez said. “We’re about half-way there (with a goal of 3,000 bighorn in the West Texas mountain ranges).” By removing surplus bighorn, browsing pressure is alleviated. “Our role is data collection,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, Sul Ross professor of Wildlife Management and director of the Borderlands Research Institute. Harveson said the research, headed by graduate student Thomas Janke, Granger, will evaluate the success of the restoration, examining dispersal, mortality and site fidelity (determining if the bighorn remain in the general area where released).
He also praised the Texas Bighorn Society for their efforts in the restoration project, which includes funding a graduate fellowship at Sul Ross. “That is a great donation and a good investment in education and conservation at the same time,” Harveson said. Janke will be in the field weekly tracking the sheep’s movements, using a receiver and antenna to follow signals from the GPS collars. He is assisted by Bill Broyles, a retired park ranger at Big Bend Ranch State Park. Eight of the sheep are fitted with satellite collars that will enable tracking via an email account on the computer. Janke has a total of 71 collared sheep to monitor, including 28 released a year ago. He noted that the collars collect one location point every three-five hours. At the end of the two-year period, when collars automatically drop off the animals, he will have over 200,000 location points to record. “Having the basic information is important, but we will also be able to use the data for future location efforts,” he said. “By determining the range, the elevation and the steepness of slope, we will be able learn what mountain ranges are most suitable for locating more sheep.” He is optimistic about the survival rate. Just seven of the 35 sheep collared and released a year ago have died, either of natural causes or due to predators. “And, the sheep released this year were added to the existing population,” Janke said. “In theory, they will be able to learn some survival techniques from the sheep already there and have a better chance of surviving.” Photo: Two captured bighorn sheep are delivered to the processing site via helicopter. Photo by Steve Lang. Photo: A captured desert bighorn sheep is fitted with a radio collar prior to its relocation to Big Bend Ranch State Park. Photo by Steve Lang. Photo: Radio-collared bighorn sheep await transport to Big Bend Ranch State Park. Photo by Steve Lang. SUL ROSS CLOSED DEC. 26-JAN. 2 FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY Sul Ross State University will be closed Dec. 26-Jan. 2 for the Christmas holiday. Offices will re-open and mid-winter classes will begin Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 at 8 a.m. ONLINE MID-WINTER, SPRING REGISTRATION CONTINUES AT SUL ROSS Mid-Winter registration at Sul Ross State University continues online through Monday, Jan. 2, with classes and late registration beginning Tuesday, Jan. 3. New students must report to the Center for Enrollment Services, Lawrence Hall, Room 100, before beginning any part of the registration process. Mid-Winter classes will be held Jan. 3-Jan. 18. Payment is due Jan. 3. Late registration will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Jan. 3, in Lawrence Hall, Room 100, for all students. Payment is due at the time of registration. Spring 2012 registration will continue through Wednesday, Jan. 18, with classes and late registration starting Thursday, Jan. 19. Payment is due Jan. 19. Late registration will continue through Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. in Lawrence Hall, Room 100. Payment is due at the time of registration. BE FLEXIBLE, TSUS CHANCELLOR TELLS SUL ROSS GRADUATES
McCall, Chancellor of the Texas State University System, delivered the fall commencement address Saturday (Dec. 17) at the Pete P. Gallego Center on the Sul Ross-Alpine Campus. A total of 252 students, 146 at Sul Ross and 106 at Rio Grande College, were candidates for degrees. Change is not only constant, but rapid, McCall said. “How can you plan that future when things are happening so very, very fast?” he asked. McCall noted that when most of today’s graduates were in high school four-six years ago, “Facebook did not exist; Twitter was just a sound, the cloud was something in the sky, 3G was a parking space, application was something you did to get into college and Skype was a typo.” McCall told graduates “things are changing fast and will continue to change at an urgent pace and to stay relevant, you must constantly and consistently engage in continued learning. It doesn’t stop today. “Be flexible. The most flexible person is the most powerful and the most powerful person is the most flexible person,” he said. “Things change and what is relevant today may not be relevant in five, four or three years (or sooner).” Life is not fair, “and I am sorry to report that you’re going to get knocked down....Smile as you pick yourself back up.” “There are so many things you can’t control, but how you deal with them makes the difference,” he said. While describing the challenges facing the graduates, McCall also offered encouragement. “We’re the lucky ones,” he said, noting that three billion people, about half the world’s population, live on less than $2 per day. Each day, about 50,000 people, including 34,000 children, die of hunger, preventible diseases and other factors related to poverty. “One thing remains unchanged, you get back what you give,” he said, adding “the more you give others, the better your life will be.” He also stressed the need for love and compassion. “Graduates, loving your neighbor is not a suggestion, it’s a commandment....Love wins. Be slow to criticize, be hesitant to condemn.” Be a friend, make friends and turn friends into family, he said, and when possible, turn the other cheek. “In the end, love wins,” he concluded. Prior to McCall’s address, Sul Ross President Dr. Ricardo Maestas recognized Charles Hunter Prude, Fort Davis, as a fourth-generation graduate. His father, Charles D. Prude, presently serves as the head athletic trainer and a lecturer in Physical Education. Photo: Dr. Brian McCall, Chancellor of the Texas State University System, delivered the commencement address Saturday Dec. 17 during Sul Ross State University's fall graduation exercises. Photo by Jason Hennington. GRANDMOTHER IS FIRST GENERATION SUL ROSS GRADUATE by Jason Hennington, News Writer On Saturday (Dec. 17), Cathy Rainer set a standard she hopes her succeeding generations will match or exceed.
In 2009, Rainer was joined at Sul Ross by her daughter, Texas Temple, and granddaughter, Micaela Marvin, who is Temple’s niece. Later they were joined by Rainer’s oldest daughter, Melody and Rainer’s granddaughter Jeanette. Rainer said that her decision to attend college influenced her children and grandchildren, who are now enrolled in college. “I first came by myself and then one of my daughters moved here right after me. She started at Sul Ross, and I had a granddaughter start at Sul Ross,” she said. “At this time I have two daughters and a granddaughter, and one going to Tarleton. My college career has spread to my children and my grandchildren, and that was my intention.” Rainer’s daughters, Temple and Marvin, are both enrolled in the nursing program. She said that it feels good to have encouraged and led the way for her family members to attend and finish college.
As a mother and grandmother, Rainer said that it “feels wonderful” to graduate and that her children and grandchildren are all very proud of her. Rainer explained that all of her family was present to support her at graduation. Rainer now plans to move to Austin to be closer to her son, who works for the railroad. “He said it’s his turn,” she laughed. With her degree she is planning to teach somewhere in the area. “Possibly substitute teach,” she said. “I’m kind of old to work full time, but I think that will be fun.” Rainer hopes to carry her experience from Sul Ross with her wherever she goes, and hopes that her story can inspire others to strive what they want. “While at Sul Ross I had the time of my life. I made a lot of good friends,” she said. “I hope to inspire other people even if they are a little up in their years, because it’s been a lot of fun.” According to Rainer, she never had any problems with younger students, and felt that she was well received by them. “The younger students are wonderful. I can meet them on the street or anywhere and I get hugs, always hellos, and they are always glad to see me,” she said. “My son says it’s because I keep candy in my purse.” Rainer said that she owes Sul Ross so much, is happy to have attended the university and is glad that the idea of going to college has spread throughout her family. Photo: Cathy Rainer receives her diploma from Sul Ross President Dr. Ricardo Maestas. Photo by Jason Hennington. Photo: Cathy Rainer accepts family congratulations after receiving her Sul Ross diplomas. Photo by Jason Hennington. |
Not an Indy 500 qualifying speed, but for desert bighorn sheep restoration, an impressive pace.
Desert bighorn numbered up to 3,000 in the mid-19th century and about 1,500 after the 1880s before undergoing a dramatic decline. Probable causes were the introduction of domestic sheep and goats to the region, along with related diseases, net-wire fencing and unregulated hunting.
Radio collars will enable the bighorn to be tracked. Harveson noted that the collars last two years “and it will take about a year after that to do the analysis we intend to do.”
Flexibility and adapting to change remain vital to success in an ever-changing world, Dr. Brian McCall told Sul Ross State University graduates.
Rainer, El Paso, received a B.A. degree in General Studies from Sul Ross State University and is the first of three generations presently enrolled to graduate..
“It feels good, and it feels good that so many followed,” she said..