Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Thirsty Creatures of the Chaparral

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — It is so hot in deep South Texas, that even the roadrunners are panting, and just like every other creature of the chaparral they are seeking out any scarce oasis.

Extreme drought conditions and soaring temperatures continue to plague southernmost Texas, as water becomes an increasingly precious resource.

With reservoir levels plummeting to record lows at Falcon and Amistad dams on the Rio Grande, water restrictions imperil municipal and agricultural usage with wildlife struggling to survive.

Ranch country windmills are spinning furiously to coax a trickle of water up from diminishing deep deposits far beneath the scorched surface.

Incessant wind and unrelenting arid conditions make it tough for windmills to keep up with evaporation and the demands of lingering livestock and parched wildlife.

Where water remains, there is a constant parade of creatures, with slender indigos slithering in joining wandering armadillos seeking to quench their thirst.

From baking birds of the brush country to thirsty Texas tortoises, all denizens of the wildlands are irresistibly drawn to shrinking water sources.

A bright orange hooded oriole nervously attempts to slake its thirst, as a bobcat might suddenly appear to pounce on unwary prey.

Both predator and prey frequent the life-giving liquid, and this sharp-eyed Cooper’s Hawk takes a quick gulp before wetting its plumage and shaking its tail feathers.

With many native plants desiccated from lack of rain, prickly pear cactus provides vital sustenance for wildlife like Cottontail rabbits and White-tailed deer, but as this doe evidences from the spines imbedded in her muzzle, eating thorny cactus pads has its dangers.

While it is not unusual to see an occasional javelina, it is quite remarkable to witness a herd of 12 crowding shoulder-to-shoulder for a drink at a vanishing waterhole.

As shadows lengthen, the roadrunner slips in one last time for a final sip before nightfall and a brief respite from the heat.