1966 Newspaper Column I wrote about the Conservation Commission for The Houston Herald

     Winter on the Piney by Larry Dablemont

     taken from the 1966 Houston Herald

        An editorial in the State Conservation magazine this month reflects the biggest problem we have in the management of wildlife in this state. It seems that everyone feels the best way to have plentiful game is to stop the hunting and hire more agents to enforce stricter laws.

    Jim Keefe, the editor of the "Conservationist," seems a little disgusted with this attitude. For years the commission has been trying to get across to landowners and sportsmen the idea of habitat improvement as a means of increasing wildlife populations. In short, hunting con trolls population but lack of habitat limits it.

    I recall conversations with various landowners who blame hunters for the lack of game. But as you talk, you gaze across acres of farmed land, closely grazed pasture and fence rows that wouldn't herbivore a field mouse.

    No one expects a farmer to sacrifice a living to support wildlife, but there is always some ground available, which can be managed for all species of game.

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    In a national outdoor magazine last month I noticed a small piece that might interest Texas County nature lovers. It concerned the fifth extremity of wildlife--the tail.

    The 'possum uses hot as an extra hand, to carry nest material and cling to branches. The beaver uses his tail as a trowel and as a warning device.  Fish use their tail for locomotion and alligators use theirs for defense.

    The squirrel depends on his tail for balance and waterfowl use their tail-feathers as a rudder. A tail serves as a fly swatter for some animals, and others just display a tail for looks, such as a pheasant and peacock. The tail of the bird dog indicates game to the hunter.

    And, what good would a coonskin cap be without a coon tail?

    Kind of makes you feel shortchanged doesn't it?

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    Mothers across the Ozarks should be pleased to hear that a Columbia pet shop as just the thing to keep the kids busy--a pet mouse!  No, not a white mouse, not a hamster, just a plain old house mouse. The symbol fo filth, carrier of disease and the scourge of every dwelling and storage building in the. country is now "selling like wild-fire," according to the clerk, at 90 cents apiece.

    Figuring mice at 90 cents each, the value of Texas County has just doubled!!