A Texas rancher has taken on the duty of balancing modern ranching with conservation, helping all manners of native flora and fauna, such as horned lizards, continue to flourish.
Brian Wright works as the manager on what was once considered one of the largest ranches in the state, the 9,500-acre White Ranch in Mason, Texas. Before joining the profession, Wright worked for IBM; however, his love for natural beauty eventually drew him to work on ranches across the Lone Star State. In 2014, Wright officially transitioned to full-time ranch work.
Wright’s love of nature permeates his work. He has taken on the mission of helping restore the presence of Texas Horned Lizards, which have slowly been disappearing over the past six decades because of insecticides wiping out food sources, invasive fire ants killing the baby lizards, and the expansion of urban development.
“They’re just unique little critters… the sweetheart of the rodeo,” he told NPR’s NextGenRadio.
“They have a mystique about ’em, you know. They’re kind of so ugly, they’re cute,” added Wright.
In 2018, Wright turned his passion into an official partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife to help improve the lizards’ habitat. The department covers 30%-70% of the expenses for the projects to maintain and sustain the land. This covers items like prescribed burning, a process used to help improve soil conditions.
In 2019, Wright expanded his efforts, teaming with researchers at Texas Christian University’s Horny Toad Project. Now, you can find pink flags dotting the White Ranch acreage, marking lizard nesting sites.
Despite White Ranch remaining a fully operational cattle ranch, it has simultaneously developed into a thriving lizard habitat. Wright has taken on the challenge of ranching in a sustainable manner.
“That’s part of what I’m trying to do is make the ranch sustainable… You want to try to find that good balance and Mother Nature is going to dictate what that balance is,” said Wright.
