{
  "id": 5409530,
  "title": "Two friends restored overgrazed Texas ranch; wildlife returned",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/two-friends-restored-overgrazed-texas-ranch-wildlife-returned",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-03T20:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/two-friends-bought-a-225-acre-overgrazed-texas-ranch-that-could-support-little-beyond-cattle-after-restoring-100-acres-of-prairie-planting-3000-sand-plums-and-adding-a-5-acre-wetland-wildlife-returned/articleshow/133709430.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2000, Jim Willis and John Webb acquired a 225-acre ranch situated near the San Bernard River in Texas. The land was severely degraded due to overgrazing, with only cattle able to survive on the property. The pair decided to alter the management of the land in order to restore native plants and enhance the habitat for various wildlife species, such as bobwhite quail.\n\nTheir approach involved replacing the non-native grasses with native varieties like little bluestem and switchgrass. Over time, these changes transformed the ranch from a wildlife desert into an environment where quail and other grassland species could thrive. The habitat restoration also connected wildlife corridors between neighboring properties.\n\nThe initial steps of the restoration process were challenging. The pair removed cattle from the property for a period to allow non-native grasses to regrow. They then conducted prescribed burns and applied herbicides, followed by a second prescribed burn to remove dead grass. In early winter, native grasses were planted, with some species taking up to a year to establish themselves before cattle were reintroduced to the ranch. The small herd played a crucial role in managing the restored grassland, preventing the grasses from becoming too dense or tall while their hooves aided in seed replanting.\n\nTo provide woody cover for quail, Willis and Webb planted 3,000 native sand plum trees. They also added forbs, plants that produce seeds and insects, which serve as a vital food source for quail hens and chicks. Additionally, they expanded a small, shallow pond to create a five-acre wetland area.\n\nThe Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acknowledged the extensive work carried out at WW Ranch, which included native prairie restoration on over 100 acres, planting 3,000 native sand plum trees, constructing a five-acre wetland, and installing bird nesting boxes. The ranch also developed seven ponds and a pipeline distribution system for cattle and wildlife.\n\nOne of the key indicators of the ecosystem's health was the return of the bobwhite quail, considered an indicator species reflecting habitat quality for other grassland birds. The restoration at WW Ranch resulted in a healthy population of roughly one quail per acre without any additional efforts to restock the birds.\n\nRealizing that restoring one ranch was insufficient to address habitat loss, Willis began approaching neighboring landowners to join the effort. After two years of negotiations, more landowners agreed to transform their properties into a larger connected area of habitat. By 2008, 28 landowners, ranging from 42 acres to nearly 8,000 acres, had joined the project. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Audubon Texas provided financial incentives and technical assistance. The objective was to establish more than seven miles of connected, open habitat for grassland wildlife.\n\nLarge working cattle ranches can offer space for native species; however, dividing such land into smaller properties can hinder wildlife survival. Kyle Brazil, a Texas Audubon biologist who worked with Willis, emphasized that well-managed habitat benefits all grassland birds. Convincing other landowners to participate was not always easy, as some were concerned about the costs of temporarily removing cattle and conducting prescribed burns. Willis highlighted that restoration could provide practical benefits for ranchers, such as reduced expenses on fertilizers and hay, enhanced water and soil erosion control, and income from cattle grazing and hunting leases to offset restoration costs.",
  "summary": "Two friends, Jim Willis and John Webb, bought a 225-acre overgrazed ranch in Texas in 2000 that could support little beyond cattle. They gradually restored native prairie, planted 3,000 sand plum trees, added a five-acre wetland and changed grazing practices. The work transformed the property into habitat for bobwhite quail, grassland birds, deer, ducks and other wildlife, while also encouraging…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}