The Texas Kangaroo Rat has been proposed to be listed as a federal threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, because of its declining numbers due to multiple factors, including habitat loss. The range of the species in Texas includes all or portions of 11 counties: Archer, Baylor, Childress, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Montague, Motley, Wichita and Wilbarger Counties.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which will allow TPWD to offer Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for the Texas kangaroo rat to private landowners in the conservation area. A CCAA is a formal, voluntary agreement between the Service and private landowners to conserve habitat that benefits at-risk species. In return, participating property owners receive assurances that no additional conservation measures will be required if the covered species is listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
'Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff look forward to enrolling interested landowners in the Texas Kangaroo Rat CCAA,” said Meredith Longoria, Deputy Director for the Wildlife Division at TPWD. “This is an opportunity for landowners to take an active role in reducing the likelihood that this species will be added to the endangered species list by agreeing to land management practices that will benefit the species. If the Texas Kangaroo Rat is added to the list in the future, participating landowners will receive the benefit of being able to continue to manage their land under the terms outlined in the agreement established prior to listing without fear of violating the Endangered Species Act.”
Texas Parks & Wildlife will be hosting several landowner meetings to discuss the details of the CCAA, what it can and can’t do for you and help landowners sign up their properties if interested. Meetings will be held at the following locations:
• Wednesday, November 9 at 4:00PM at the Quanah Community Center, 1600 Airport Road, Quanah, TX
• Thursday, November 10 at 4:00PM at the South Plains Electric Coop, 1900 Ave C, NW, Childress, TX
• Monday, November 14 at 4:00PM at the Cottle County Courthouse (2nd floor), Paducah, TX
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