An orange Monarch butterfly lands on an orange flower in a field of flowers and grass
Brandon Jakobeit

Copperheads and fire ants aren’t exactly ideal neighbors, but don’t hold that against the rest of our animal kingdom. Texas has over 142 species of mammals, more than 600 birds, 71 types of amphibians, and 160 kinds of reptiles, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. We also have a whopping 30,000 varieties of insects, which should come as no surprise to anyone who has endured a long, hot Texas summer crawling with blister beetles, assassin bugs, and—possibly the most unfriendly of them all—mighty cockroaches. David Hewitt, executive director of Wildlife Research at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, details some of the kindest creatures in the state.

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An illustration of a bat

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat

Bats eat insects that harm crops, so they’re beneficial to farmers. In fact, they can eat up to two-thirds of their body weight in insects per night. Viewings at Ann Richards Bridge in Austin is a popular nighttime attraction.

An illustration of an orange Monarch butterfly on a light yellow background

Monarch Butterfly

Monarchs migrate across Texas twice a year—March and October—flying thousands of miles each time. Plant milkweed so these long-distance travelers have enough food as they pass by. “They add a lot of value to the environment,” Hewitt says.

Northern Mockingbird

These little beauties usher in each day with their glorious singing. The mockingbird was appointed the official state bird in 1927, with the state Legislature saluting it as “a fighter for the protection of his home, falling, if need be, in its defense, like any true Texan.”

Texas Horned Lizard

Though it’s revered as the state reptile, Hewitt says horny toad numbers have declined. They look like little dinosaurs, and they’re often the first forms of wildlife that enchant Texas kids, which is a pretty good reason to protect them.

An illustration of a tan ocelot with dark brown spots

Ocelot

This endangered cat is making a comeback. “They don’t cause problems for anybody, and they’re gorgeous,” Hewitt says. Ocelots are a marker of a mature, brushy habitat and an indicator of healthy land. They can be spotted in their habitat in the southern Rio Grande Valley.

An illustration of an armadillo

Nine-Banded Armadillo

The armadillo is a Texas icon. Some call it a pest due to its penchant for uprooting flower beds and gardens. But keep in mind that when armadillos are destroying, they’re also eating grubs that harm plants, giving native flora a much better chance of survival.

An illustration of a turkey vulture

Turkey Vulture

These raptors hang out in groups, are somewhat gregarious, and help with cleanup by eating carrion that might otherwise stay on the side of the road looking unpleasant. “They’re working on our behalf all the time,” Hewitt says.

From the November 2024 issue

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