TPW TV -- LABROCITAS: Creating a new and improved home 
on the range for wildlife ... ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

Landowners, like Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence -- of 
Labrocitas Creek Ranch in Brooks County -- are 
responsible for transformative conservation in Texas.

03 -- When I come on this ranch, I get goose bumps.


That's TPW biologist Randy Fugate, who provides 
technical land assistance to the Lawrence family.

08 -- it's so impressive to see all of the improvements that have 
occurred here since they owned the property -- from what it used to 
look like -- 25 years ago.
 



The Lawrence's received the 2014 LSLS Ecoregion Award 
for South Texas. Berdon Lawrence says when they bought 
the ranch it was an overgrazed piece of property that 
didn't support much native wildlife.

13 -- The cattle had just about eaten all the grass. No place for quail to 
hide, and for the does to hide the little baby deer. And so, the 
predators would often get the little baby deer and the little quail.

 
They invented a device called the "quailorator." Ranch 
manager, David Kelly, says pulled behind a tractor, the 
quailorator gently aerates and improves the land for its 
namesake species.

09 -- Right here in this quaileratorated area, we have [native grass] 
clumps for nesting and cover. And right over here, we have aerated 
parts that will provide food for quail.



Watch a segment on Labrocitas Ranch next week on the 
PBS TPW TV series. Check your local listings. 

06 -- And it's nice to be able to preserve the wildlife that's been here 
for maybe millions of years.



For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.



Total sound bite time:			0:39.0
Maximum Script time:			0:46.0	 	 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25