Habitat Loss
As our population grows, more and more land is converted for human needs. More than half of America's wetlands that support waterfowl and wildlife have been drained and/or plowed. Currently, Texas has over 25 million residents (2010 Census) residents, with 82% living in urban areas. The population of Texas is predicted to reach 40 million residents by the year 2050.
The biggest threat to wildlife and habitat today is the break-up of large land holdings into smaller tracts. This division of ownership and associated change in land use is referred to as land fragmentation. As intact ranches become smaller “ranchettes”, wildlife populations are subject to many pressures including loss of open space from development, increased hunting pressure, proliferation of potential predators (dogs, cats and other carnivores), and introduction of exotic species, to name a few.