Re: to many harvester ants

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Posted by Lester G. Milroy III on June 09, 2002 at 16:00:28:

In Reply to: Re: to many harvester ants posted by Spanish on June 09, 2002 at 11:22:36:

: First of all what are the ants doing that makes you want to get rid of them? Most ants can be avoided and dont cause a problem except they cause grass to stop growing in their area. It would be virtually impossible to receive a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife to keep HL for the reason you have stated. Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Cornutum) and Moutained Short Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Hernandesi) are listed as endangered. In the application you will have to give a physical location where the animals will be kept. You will be asked your experience in care and handeling these animals. You will be asked to list at least 2 references of people that already hold a permit and who agree to help supervise their care. You also have to list a vet that will be used in the case of the HL being injured or sick. Your holding facilities will also be inspected. Heating, cooling and many other factors will be looked at. You can contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife and ask them for a list of rehab or permited holders of HL's in your area. If they need the ants they can come out and remove them. But if you have been in Texas long you should know that these ants are about everywhere. Just avoid them.

:Thank you for a well versed post. The information you have posted is what I try to tell folks all of the time. The permits and the care of HLs is not just some fluke thing. There is a lot of science involved and it will become more difficult in time. People do not realize how the balance of natural systems is being effected by our behaviors. We disturb so much by development and disregard for the natural systems. Ants are very adaptive insects. Harvester ants are essential because they aid in the dispersion of seeds from plants. Native grasses and plants provide nutrients in more ways than one. Again, thanks for the post. Lester G. Milroy III

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: : First of all what are the ants doing that makes you want to get rid of them? Most ants can be avoided and dont cause a problem except they cause grass to stop growing in their area. It would be virtually impossible to receive a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife to keep HL for the reason you have stated. Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Cornutum) and Moutained Short Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Hernandesi) are listed as endangered. In the application you will have to give a physical location where the animals will be kept. You will be asked your experience in care and handeling these animals. You will be asked to list at least 2 references of people that already hold a permit and who agree to help supervise their care. You also have to list a vet that will be used in the case of the HL being injured or sick. Your holding facilities will also be inspected. Heating, cooling and many other factors will be looked at. You can contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife and ask them for a list of rehab or permited holders of HL's in your area. If they need the ants they can come out and remove them. But if you have been in Texas long you should know that these ants are about everywhere. Just avoid them. : :Thank you for a well versed post. The information you have posted is what I try to tell folks all of the time. The permits and the care of HLs is not just some fluke thing. There is a lot of science involved and it will become more difficult in time. People do not realize how the balance of natural systems is being effected by our behaviors. We disturb so much by development and disregard for the natural systems. Ants are very adaptive insects. Harvester ants are essential because they aid in the dispersion of seeds from plants. Native grasses and plants provide nutrients in more ways than one. Again, thanks for the post. Lester G. Milroy III

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