HORNED LIZARD ESSAY CONTEST, 2: Help researchers gather
historical data on a state icon ... we'll find out on Passport to Texas
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

To plan for the future, it helps to understand the past. 
That's the idea behind the Texas Home Town Horned 
Lizard Essay contest, where students collect historical 
data about horned lizards within their communities.

"We have a program going on right now called the Texas Horned 
Lizard watch that is collecting current data, but we don't have 
historical data."

Marsha Reimer coordinates the Nature Tracker program 
for Texas Parks and Wildlife. Reimer says Horned Lizard 
populations have declined dramatically over the years, 
and in order to develop a management plan for the 
animal, they need to understand it's historic range.

"We use the historical information and lay it out throughout the 
state and lay it out throughout the state and try to find out what 
has gone on with those populations throughout the state."

The contest, in its fifth year, is open to students in grades 
three through twelve. Download a booklet with contest 
rules from the Texas Parks and Wildlife web site. Marsha 
Reimer says this year she hopes she'll see more essays 
from students in East Texas.

"We're getting a lot of information from west Texas in the 
Panhandle, because that's where the horned lizards currently 
are most populated, but we're not getting a lot of information 
out of East Texas. So, I'd really like to see some individuals or 
teams out of East Texas send out essays."

The submission deadline is February 1, 2006. 

That's our show for today ... thank you for joining us ... For 
Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.