WICKED 

Wild
In the
City of
Kerrville
Every
Day

The Riverside Nature Center proves that if you plant it they will come, and that even a small urban site can be a wildlife oasis. Urban areas can provide wildlife with food, water and shelter, and for many species a basic freedom from natural predators.

Since purchase of the 3.5 acres in 1992, volunteers have been planting natives to bring wild back into the City of Kerrville.

RNC is a certified Watchable Wildlife Site with TPWD’s Heart of Texas Wildlife Trail, Wildscapes Demonstration Site, National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat, and a Monarch Way Station. (link to websites & stewardship tab)

Weekly Fauna Census have been conducted since 2007 providing the documentation of what can be seen within the city.

Birds: since 1995 to 2011, 154 species have been documented (inlcuding 119 species during 2011). Highlights include: American white pelicans and Swainson hawks in migration, plus zone-tailed hawk and green kingfisher. (checklists for RNC & Kerr Co, links) records can be accessed through eBird data base

Butterflies & Moths: due to the focus on planting native nectar and larval plants the current total number of species documented is 80 (altho 2011 drought cut the species seen by half, with only 24 speices sighted). Six county records have been documented at RNC: Ruby-spotted swallowtail, Statira sulphur (link to pics) +_______.

Dragonflies & Damselflies: 35 total species (checklist)

Herps: 21 species

Mammals: 14 species. In 1984 a black bear cub was caught in a tree along Town Creek. In 1994 a mountain lion was spotted downstream at the G Street bridge crossing.

Non-Natives/Exotics: feral cats are the dominant urban exotic, however, in 2011 axis deer and feral hogs were sighted along the Guadalupe River within the city limits.