(Mission, TX) – Luciano Guerra, Outreach & Education Coordinator at the National Butterfly Center^TM in Mission, Texas, has been awarded a Wilson Seay Stout 2023 Horned Lizard Conservation Society grant for a population survey and photographic study of this species at the North American Butterfly Association’s latest land acquisition, Pixie Preserve.

In his regular duties at the Center, Guerra documents the wildlife present for posterity and public education. An award-winning conservation photographer, Guerra not only uses his images to teach others about photography, but also about the special creatures and features of the Rio Grande Valley, many of which are disappearing as the landscape is artificially altered. The Texas Horned Lizard, which is listed as Threatened by the State of Texas, is one of these.

“I remember being fascinated by ‘horny toads’ as a child,” states Guerra. “When I was growing up here, they were so plentiful we could find and play with them. The idea that one day they might vanish from most of the Valley is something that never occurred to my friends and me.”

With this grant from the Horned Lizard Conservation Society, Guerra will get to search for and interact with Horned Lizards, again, in furtherance of the goal of protecting them for future generations.

“Realistically, I know they will never be as abundant as they once were,” adds Guerra, “But if I can play a small part in reversing the trend that has resulted in such a drastic decline over the past thirty-plus years, I will feel that I have accomplished something worthwhile.”

At Pixie Preserve, 350 acres of habitat remains in permanent conservation easement for the Horned Lizard, along with lots of Harvester Ants, their preferred food. However, rapid residential development, heavy commercial traffic and substantial population increase in rural Hidalgo County jeopardize the health and safety of these miniature relatives of long-lost dinosaurs. For this reason, locating and observing them is the first step toward directly impacting their survival.

“Knowing how many Horned Lizard inhabit the Preserve and where they are more prevalent is critical to establishing a baseline for continued study of the species,” states Marianna Treviño Wright, executive director of the National Butterfly Center. “The data Luciano and his collaborators gather and record may be used to support future scientific research and repopulation efforts, including captive breeding and release programs, such as the one at the San Antonio Zoo.”

Other species surveys and scientific research conducted at the Center and the Preserve have involved mosquitoes, native bees, Rio Grande Coot, Grey Hawk. Monarchs and flea beetles.

To learn more about the National Butterfly Center, and how you can join us and support our good work, visit www.nationalbutterflycenter.org or call 956-583-4300. Your annual membership or charitable gift/bequest impacts the beauty of our community and helps preserve the biologically diverse, natural treasures of deep South Texas.

###

The National Butterfly Center is committed to ‘Growing Connections’ between people, plants, and the winged wonders that pollinate and propagate all that grows around us. We do this through educational and environmental initiatives that cultivate meaningful understanding of the processes that create sustainable ecosystems. The Center is open to the public, for visitors and members, seven days/week. www.NationalButterflyCenter.org

The Horned Lizard Conservation Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the only organization in the world dedicated to protecting horned lizards. Their mission is to study, document and publicize the value and conservation needs of horned lizards and to promote horned lizard conservation projects and assist with horned lizard management initiatives throughout their ranges. www.HornedLizards.org