Planning for sustainable eco-tourism;
acorn-planting at the Ranch

By Bebe and Sissy Fenstermaker

Talked to a cousin in Far West Texas and they are having a spectacular sunset this evening. The sky here did not have that kind of color but it did remind me of Italian skies in Renaissance paintings. I remember being surprised that the skies in Italy were actually just like the paintings. So were the trees.
Last night I heard a continuous rasping sound which at first I thought was the dog snoring. I went out on the porch and realized the sound was coming from the big trees just outside the yard fence. Never heard that noise before and it sure did sound like big cat. Wooo. I wonder what kind. Hope I don't really have to find out.
Our neighbor Wally called. He has been out rescuing animals from a sanctuary in the area that is closing its doors. Coming to our area very soon are a crippled camel and a 16-year-old lion. He assures me the lion's roar will be a lot louder than the tiger he had many years ago. Wally is Primarily Primates, the largest primate sanctuary in the country. He's a good soul if ever there was one. He was featured in an article in the October issue of Atlantic Monthly about a chimpanzee at his facility. If you can find it, the article is really wonderful. It describes Wally to a T and, although the description of him made us laugh, his kindness and endless tenacity to save that chimp shine through. Now it's "primarily" animals he's rescuing, and pretty soon I'll hear roars again with my morning coffee. I have really missed the old tiger.
We have been waiting for the production of a new map, the new Texas Parks and Wildlife Heart of Texas wildlife watching map. This is the continuation of the TPWD trail along the coast, called the Great Coastal Birding Trail. The name has changed to include all wildlife watching, not just birding, and signs will point out the trail along main roads and planned loop trips off those main roads. The TPWD proposed extending the coastal trail on from Zapata through Laredo and up through the Hill Country. This part is called the Heart of Texas Trail. The TPWD is extending the trail on up to the Oklahoma border. The coastal trail is very successful, bringing in eco-friendly tourism dollars and interesting clientele. The average wildlife-watching tourist is 54 years of age and has at least a high school education. The TPWD has amazing statistics that show the millions of dollars eco-tourism brings into the state. Of nature-related activities, hunting is a large industry in Texas, but right behind it is eco-tourism. It is the fastest growing kind of tourism in the country. Our loop is called the Cibolo Loop and runs from Government Canyon State Natural Area, northwest of San Antonio, up our road past us and on to the Cibolo Nature Center just outside of Boerne. The three coastal trail maps are beautiful so we are looking forward to seeing ours.
A group of like-minded people has formed a nature tourism committee that meets monthly in Boerne. Our purpose is to encourage sustainable eco-tourism in this area. We have had interesting discussions and are producing a map that will be linked to the Boerne Chamber of Commerce site. This map will have pop-ups of nature-related businesses and places to visit, both public and private. Our next meeting's program is about eco-tourism in Costa Rica and that country's concerns about sustainability. Too many tourists can quickly damage sensitive areas and bring about degradation even when there are the best intentions. We want to encourage our area's businesses to keep this important fact in mind when deciding how to set up their businesses and figuring on carrying capacities. A very gentle and knowledgeable hand is necessary in order to continue to have special places to show.

Bebe Fenstermaker

November, we heard, would be warmer than usual. So far, we have had the first two chilliest cool fronts of the season. They have been interspersed with sunny, warm, or cloudy, wet days. There were also cool evenings that made me shut all doors and windows but that made it too stuffy in the house. My solution was to put on a light jacket and leave the front door open all night. I'd say our fall has been quite pleasant and we are still waiting for the trees to turn colors.
The oaks were loaded with acorns that fed the deer and wild hogs. I had acorn ammo to chunk at Blue the peacock when he pestered Ponchito the rooster. I spent several days searching for shin oak acorns to propagate. I finally found a shin oak that had so much brush around it no animal had bothered to feed under it. I spent about thirty minutes gathering all the little acorns I could find. About two weeks after planting them in a pot, I noticed most had put down a root. My attempts to propagate live oak acorns last year were not nearly as successful.
The squirrels and I have been competing for pecans this fall. They have been obnoxious. They fuss and the dogs sit under the trees barking until I am driven mad by all the racket. One morning several weeks ago I heard squeaking and the rustle of leaves. Dreading that Russ the cat had caught a bird I started in his direction. He came out from under a tree with what looked like a thick drooping mustache. Wow! He had caught and dispatched a squirrel. I was as thrilled as he was. Some days later one of the dogs ran out to the big oak in front of the house. I had seen the other cat, Brassy, out there so I headed in the same direction, fearing she had either a lizard or a bird. Nope, she, too, had gotten a squirrel. Later the dogs and I were standing on the front porch when up the trail she came sporting a thick, brown mustache, too. She was so proud of herself. Her tail was straight up in the air as she trotted up the path. Stopping briefly to get a better grip on it, she came on at a trot, tail up. Cats two, rodents zero!

Sissy Fenstermaker