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Post Oak Savannah Ecoregion
Wildlife Management Plan for Titus County, Texas
Titus County spans the boundary between the East Central Texas Plains and South Central Plains, with 65 documented wildlife species.
Intelligence Snapshot
Titus County Ecological Profile
The Post Oak Savannah is a transitional belt of open woodland and grassland stretching from the Red River to the Gulf Coast, marking the boundary between the eastern forests and the Blackland Prairie. Titus County's 406 square miles are characteristic of this landscape. Post oak, blackjack oak, and eastern red cedar form a scattered overstory above a grass-dominated understory of little bluestem, purpletop, and brownseed paspalum. Lake Bob Sandlin State Park provides a nucleus of protected habitat and a reference landscape for private land management in the surrounding area.
Wildlife management in the Post Oak Savannah focuses on restoring the open, park-like woodland structure that historically characterized the region. Eastern red cedar removal through mechanical cutting and prescribed fire is the primary management action, followed by restoration of native grass and forb understory beneath retained post oak canopy. Riparian corridors along the sandy creeks of the region provide critical travel corridors for wildlife and should be protected from intensive grazing. Food plots of native warm-season grasses supplemented with iron clay cowpeas and grain sorghum provide supplemental nutrition for white-tailed deer and wild turkey during stress periods.
Transitional Ecoregion
Titus County spans the boundary between the East Central Texas Plains and South Central Plains. Species assemblages, soil types, and appropriate management intensities differ between these regions. A property in the East Central Texas Plains portion of the county will require different practices than one in the South Central Plains zone.
Soil Conditions
Soils are predominantly deep, sandy loams of the Padina, Silstid, and Demona series, with scattered areas of heavy clay in bottomlands. The sandy upland soils are drought-prone but support excellent native grass production when properly managed.
Fire Ecology
The Post Oak Savannah evolved with fire at 2 to 5 year intervals. Prescribed burning is essential for maintaining the open woodland structure and controlling the eastern red cedar invasion that has dramatically altered the region over the past century.
Spans 2 ecoregions: East Central Texas Plains, South Central Plains
White-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, and northern bobwhite are the primary management targets. The region provides important habitat for neotropical migratory songbirds, including painted bunting, summer tanager, and yellow-billed cuckoo, that nest in the oak woodland canopy. Texas horned lizard persists in areas with sandy soils and active harvester ant colonies. Eastern bluebird benefits from nest box programs in areas where natural cavity trees have been removed.
Titus County Species of Conservation Concern
TPWD records 65 species in Titus County. Birds represent the most documented group at 23 species. 2 federally listed species and 60 Species of Greatest Conservation Need have been documented in the county.
Primary Management Targets
white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, eastern bluebird
Listed Species
Nests on bare sand and shell flats along the Gulf Coast. Coastal properties must avoid disturbance to nesting areas during breeding season (March through August). Vehicle traffic on beaches in occupied habitat is restricted.
Western distinct population segment is threatened. Requires large patches of mature riparian woodland (cottonwood, willow) with dense understory. Clearing riparian corridors wider than 300 feet may trigger consultation in designated critical habitat.
Nests on bare sand and gravel bars along rivers and reservoirs. Disturbance during nesting season (May through August) must be avoided. Water level management at reservoirs affects nesting success.
Nests on bare sand and shell flats along the Gulf Coast. Coastal properties must avoid disturbance to nesting areas during breeding season (March through August). Vehicle traffic on beaches in occupied habitat is restricted.
Found in large river systems of East Texas. Dam operations and river flow management affect spawning habitat and migration corridors.
Depends on harvester ant colonies for food. Fire ant suppression and native grassland restoration directly benefit this species. Listed as state threatened.
Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department RTEST Database; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Critical Habitat Designations
Post Oak Savannah Wildlife Management Standards
Management in Titus County means restoring the open, park-like post oak woodland that fire historically maintained. Cedar removal and native grass restoration beneath retained oaks are the primary actions. Under 34 TAC Section 9.2002, the Post Oak Savannah ecoregion requires 15 to 20 minimum acres, 20% brush management coverage, and annual wildlife census documentation. Primary targets are white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, and eastern bluebird. Practice recommendations should reflect each property's specific landscape position within the county.
These are the intensity thresholds your plan must meet for the Post Oak Savannah ecoregion. Your county appraisal district will verify compliance against these minimums. A plan that does not address them risks denial of your wildlife management valuation. For a complete overview of the seven management pillars, see the management pillars guide.
This is a hard minimum. The appraisal district will verify that your plan prescribes brush management on at least this proportion of your acreage annually.
Food plots must provide nutritional supplementation for target species. The minimum size and density are set by ecoregion to reflect carrying capacity.
Feeder placement and protein content are auditable. The aflatoxin threshold (20 ppb) is a compliance requirement, not a suggestion.
Fire ant suppression directly supports native harvester ant populations, the primary food source for Texas horned lizard and other ground-foraging species.
Brown-headed cowbirds are brood parasites that reduce nesting success of songbirds. The minimum applies to properties where cowbird trapping is selected as a management activity.
The burn rotation percentage applies over the full plan period. Properties that cannot burn due to WUI constraints must document the limitation and substitute equivalent mechanical treatment.
Nest box density is based on territory size of target cavity-nesting species. Boxes must be monitored and maintained annually.
Source: TPWD 34 TAC Section 9.2002, Comprehensive Wildlife Management Planning Guidelines
Conservation Infrastructure
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park provides protected Post Oak Savannah habitat and serves as a reference landscape for private land management in the county.
Infrastructure
The Railroad Commission documents 1,716 wells and 350 pipeline segments in Titus County, a moderate industrial presence alongside agricultural land use.
65 species in 406 square miles of post oak woodland. In Titus County, restoring the open savannah structure is the core management objective.
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