Wildlife of Proto-Town/Animals: Difference between revisions

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{{Wildlife navigation}}
{{Wildlife navigation}}
{{Wildlife edibility disclaimer}}


Wild animals should be observed from a distance and never fed. An animal that is unusually tame, staggering, circling, repeatedly approaching people, or unable to use its limbs may be injured or ill; keep people and pets away and notify the appropriate local authority.
Wild animals should be observed from a distance and never fed. An animal that is unusually tame, staggering, circling, repeatedly approaching people, or unable to use its limbs may be injured or ill; keep people and pets away and notify the appropriate local authority.
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|origin=Native
|origin=Native
|status=Game animal; not federally listed
|status=Game animal; not federally listed
|edibility={{Wildlife edibility|game}} Venison. Legal season, license, tagging, land authorization, carcass rules, and safe field handling apply.
|risk=orange
|risk=orange
|danger=Major vehicle-strike hazard. Cornered adults, rutting bucks, and does defending fawns can kick or gore.
|danger=Major vehicle-strike hazard. Cornered adults, rutting bucks, and does defending fawns can kick or gore.
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|origin=Native
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|status=Not federally listed
|benefit=Consumes carrion, insects, and other small animals, contributing to nutrient cycling and natural cleanup.
|risk=yellow
|risk=yellow
|danger=May hiss, bare teeth, or bite if handled, but is usually defensive rather than aggressive.
|danger=May hiss, bare teeth, or bite if handled, but is usually defensive rather than aggressive.
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|origin=Native to the Americas; naturally expanded into Texas
|origin=Native to the Americas; naturally expanded into Texas
|status=Not federally listed
|status=Not federally listed
|benefit=Consumes many soil invertebrates; digging in natural areas mixes and aerates surface soil.
|risk=yellow
|risk=yellow
|danger=Sharp claws can injure handlers. Some armadillos carry the bacterium associated with Hansen disease, so handling is discouraged.
|danger=Sharp claws can injure handlers. Some armadillos carry the bacterium associated with Hansen disease, so handling is discouraged.
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|origin=Native
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|status=Not federally listed
|benefit=Helps regulate rodents and rabbits and removes carrion from the landscape.
|risk=orange
|risk=orange
|danger=Usually avoids people but can threaten unattended pets; habituated or cornered animals may bite.
|danger=Usually avoids people but can threaten unattended pets; habituated or cornered animals may bite.
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|origin=Introduced; invasive
|origin=Introduced; invasive
|status=Non-native and not protected as a game animal in Texas
|status=Non-native and not protected as a game animal in Texas
|edibility={{Wildlife edibility|game}} Wild pork. Wear protective equipment while handling a carcass and cook thoroughly; feral swine can transmit brucellosis and other disease.
|risk=orange
|risk=orange
|danger=Large animals can charge or slash with tusks when cornered, wounded, or defending young; they also carry diseases transmissible to livestock and people.
|danger=Large animals can charge or slash with tusks when cornered, wounded, or defending young; they also carry diseases transmissible to livestock and people.
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|origin=Native
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|status=Not federally listed
|benefit=An important native predator of rodents and other small animals.
|risk=red
|risk=red
|danger=Venomous bite can cause severe tissue injury, bleeding, shock, and death without timely treatment.
|danger=Venomous bite can cause severe tissue injury, bleeding, shock, and death without timely treatment.
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|origin=Native
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|status=Not federally listed
|benefit=Provides valuable rodent control around fields, woodland edges, and structures.
|risk=yellow
|risk=yellow
|danger=Nonvenomous but may bite and release foul musk when grabbed.
|danger=Nonvenomous but may bite and release foul musk when grabbed.
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}}
}}


==Black vulture==
==Eastern cottontail==
{{Wildlife entry
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Black vulture
|name=Eastern cottontail
|image=Coragyps-atratus-001.jpg
|image=Eastern cottontail headshot (30826).jpg
|type=Bird; vulture
|type=Mammal; rabbit
|scientific=''Coragyps atratus''
|scientific=''Sylvilagus floridanus''
|regional=Black buzzard; black vulture
|regional=Cottontail; brush rabbit
|origin=Native
|origin=Native
|status=Federally protected migratory bird; not federally endangered
|status=Nongame animal; not federally listed
|edibility={{Wildlife edibility|game}} Rabbit meat. Hunting law, land authorization, sanitary field handling, and thorough cooking apply.
|risk=orange
|risk=none
|danger=Large flocking bird and significant bird-strike hazard to low-flying aircraft; groups can damage rubber, vinyl, and exposed equipment.
|description=The eastern cottontail is the likely small rabbit around Proto-Town: brown-gray, relatively short-eared, and marked by a round white tail that flashes while it runs. It feeds on grasses and forbs near brush, field edges, gardens, and roadsides and seldom travels far from protective cover. A hare or jackrabbit is larger, longer-legged, and much longer-eared.
|description=Black vultures are broad-winged black birds with short tails, bare gray heads, and white patches near the wingtips. They soar on thermals and gather around carcasses, roosts, dumpsters, and structures. Unlike turkey vultures, they rely heavily on sight and often travel in groups.
|encounter=A motionless young rabbit is often hiding normally rather than abandoned. Keep people and pets back and contact a wildlife rehabilitator only if it is visibly injured or a professional confirms that intervention is needed.
|encounter=Do not feed, harass, trap, or kill protected birds without authorization. Around flight operations, report concentrations promptly, stop attractants such as exposed waste or carcasses, and follow the site’s wildlife-hazard procedure.
}}

==Texas tortoise==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Texas tortoise
|image=Gopherus berlandieri.jpg
|type=Reptile; tortoise
|scientific=''Gopherus berlandieri''
|regional=Texas tortoise
|origin=Native to South-Central and South Texas
|status=Threatened and protected under Texas law
|benefit=Native herbivore that disperses seeds and contributes to South Texas plant communities.
|risk=yellow
|danger=The animal is protected: collecting, possessing, transporting, selling, or harming a wild Texas tortoise is illegal. Unnecessary relocation can kill it.
|description=The Texas tortoise has column-like hind legs and a tan to dark shell with yellow-orange centers on the scutes. Adults normally reach about 8½ inches in shell length. The tortoise-shaped animal observed at Proto-Town was estimated at roughly 8 inches, which is therefore consistent with an adult Texas tortoise rather than an exceptionally large or exotic giant tortoise. Caldwell County remains north of the species’ commonly documented county range, and a three-toed box turtle can look similar at a glance, so a photograph of the shell, hind feet, and head is still needed for confident identification.
|encounter=In the wild, leave it alone. If immediate road danger can be addressed safely, move it only across the road in the direction it was already traveling and never relocate it elsewhere. In a developed area, photograph it and contact TPWD or a qualified wildlife rehabilitator. Do not collect it: Texas tortoises are protected under state law.
}}

==Three-toed box turtle==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Three-toed box turtle
|image=Three-Toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) (50125424418).jpg
|type=Reptile; terrestrial turtle
|scientific=''Terrapene carolina triunguis''
|regional=Box turtle; three-toed box turtle
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed; native wildlife regulations apply
|benefit=Consumes invertebrates and fallen fruit and can disperse seeds through woodland and grassland edges.
|risk=yellow
|danger=Road traffic is a major danger to the turtle. Removing one from its home area can reduce its chance of survival.
|description=This domed land turtle inhabits woodland edges, brushy fields, and moist shaded areas and may be mistaken for a small tortoise. The Texas subspecies usually has three toes on each hind foot, a hinged lower shell, and variable brown, yellow, or orange markings. It can close the shell tightly when frightened.
|encounter=Leave it where it is. If it is in immediate road danger and you can stop safely, move it a short distance to the side it was already facing; never take it home or relocate it to a distant “better” habitat.
}}

==Green anole==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Green anole
|image=Anolis carolinensis.jpg
|type=Reptile; lizard
|scientific=''Anolis carolinensis''
|regional=Green anole; American anole; often called a chameleon
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|benefit=Consumes insects and spiders on vegetation, fences, and building exteriors.
|risk=none
|description=Green anoles are slender climbing lizards found on shrubs, trees, fences, and walls. They can change from bright green through mottled shades to brown, but they do not have to be uniformly colored. '''The form repeatedly observed at Proto-Town—a green body with a sharply divided brown tail beginning near the tail base—is consistent with a green anole that has dropped and regenerated most of its tail.''' The regenerated portion is structurally different from the original tail and may not match the body’s color or texture. Several bicolored individuals therefore do not necessarily indicate another species; they may indicate that several local anoles have survived attacks or other tail-loss events. Identification should also use the long pointed head, slender build, expanded adhesive toe pads, and, on displaying males, a pink-red throat fan called a dewlap.
|encounter=No action is normally needed. Never grab an anole by the tail, which can detach as a defensive response. Let an indoor visitor leave through an open door or gently guide it into a container without squeezing it. A clear photograph showing the head, toes, body scales, and the tail junction is much more useful for confirmation than color alone.
}}

==Gulf Coast toad==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Gulf Coast toad
|image=Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer).jpg
|type=Amphibian; true toad
|scientific=''Incilius nebulifer''
|regional=Gulf Coast toad; coastal plains toad
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally or state listed
|benefit=Nocturnal predator of insects and other small invertebrates, including many encountered around lights.
|risk=yellow
|danger=Skin glands release irritating secretions when the toad is threatened. Handling may irritate eyes or broken skin, and a dog that mouths a toad may drool, foam, paw at the mouth, vomit, or develop more serious symptoms.
|description=The Gulf Coast toad is the most likely chunky, warty toad around buildings after a warm rain. It is gray, tan, brown, or olive with a pale stripe down the back, dark blotches, prominent ridges on the head, and large glands behind the eyes. Adults shelter in soil, sprinkler boxes, debris, and other cool recesses by day, then emerge at night to eat insects around lights. Very small “baby toads” may appear in numbers after tadpoles leave temporary water.
|encounter=Let it move away and wash hands after accidental contact. Keep dogs from licking or biting it. If a pet mouths a toad, remove the pet from the area and call a veterinarian; for mild mouth irritation, Texas A&M advises gently wiping the inside of the mouth with a damp cloth rather than forcing running water into it. Seek emergency veterinary care for tremors, seizures, weakness, breathing difficulty, collapse, or unresponsiveness.
}}

==Rio Grande chirping frog==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Rio Grande chirping frog
|image=Rio Grande Chirping Frog (Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides), Liberty Co., TX, USA (30.3193°N, 94.8190°W, 21 m.) 13 April 2007.jpg
|type=Amphibian; direct-developing frog
|scientific=''Eleutherodactylus campi''; older sources use ''E. cystignathoides campi'' or ''E. cystignathoides''
|regional=Rio Grande chirping frog; chirping frog
|origin=Native to South Texas and northeastern Mexico; introduced and established in Central Texas
|status=Not federally or state listed
|risk=none
|description=This tiny brown, gray, or olive frog is often only about an inch long and may be noticed after rain beneath pots, boards, leaf litter, landscaping, or inside damp ground-level rooms. Its repeated peep or squeaky chirp is easily mistaken for an insect. Unlike most frogs, it does not need a pond for tadpoles: eggs are laid in moist sheltered places and hatch directly into miniature frogs. Nursery plants have helped spread it beyond its original South Texas range.
|encounter=No special action is needed. Avoid squeezing or handling it with dry, chemical-contaminated hands; gently guide an indoor frog into a damp container and release it into nearby sheltered vegetation away from traffic and pets.
}}

==Blanchard's cricket frog==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Blanchard's cricket frog
|image=Blanchard’s cricket frog (Acris blanchardi), Montgomery Co. TX (April 2014).jpg
|type=Amphibian; small treefrog relative
|scientific=''Acris blanchardi''
|regional=Cricket frog; Blanchard's cricket frog
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally or state listed in Texas
|benefit=Consumes small insects and forms part of the native wetland food web.
|risk=none
|description=This very small, rough-skinned frog lives along pond edges, ditches, puddles, creeks, and other shallow water. Color varies from gray and brown to greenish, often with dark triangular markings and a brighter stripe along the back. It makes a rapid series of clicks resembling two pebbles tapped together and may become conspicuous around temporary water after rain. It is a frog, not a juvenile toad.
|encounter=Watch where you step near puddles and drainage edges and let it jump to cover. Do not move frogs between ponds, since moving amphibians can spread disease and disrupt local populations.
}}

==Domestic cattle==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Domestic cattle
|image=Cow_(Fleckvieh_breed)_Oeschinensee_Slaunger_2009-07-07.jpg
|type=Domestic mammal; grazing livestock
|scientific=''Bos taurus''; some herds may include ''Bos indicus'' ancestry
|regional=Cattle; cow, bull, steer, heifer, or calf according to sex and age
|origin=Domesticated; introduced with people
|status=Welcomed and managed resident livestock; wildlife conservation status not applicable
|benefit=Managed grazing and livestock production provide land-management and agricultural value to Proto-Town.
|edibility={{Wildlife edibility|common}} Beef. Proto-Town's resident cattle are managed livestock and are not available for individual harvesting or butchering.
|risk=domesticlarge
|danger=Cattle are powerful animals capable of kicking, charging, trampling, crushing a person against a fence or vehicle, or goring with horns. Large animals on roads or aircraft movement areas can cause severe or fatal collisions.
|description=Cattle are welcomed as managed grazing livestock and are permitted to move through designated parts of Proto-Town’s land. They are not loose wildlife, even when no handler is visible. Individual temperament, maternal behavior, herd movement, unfamiliar people, dogs, vehicles, noise, confined spaces, and access to feed can all change how cattle respond. A calm-looking animal still has a wide kicking arc and can move much faster than a person at close range.
|encounter=Do not feed, pet, chase, shout at, ride, herd, separate, or attempt to treat cattle unless the livestock manager has assigned and trained you for that work. Leave gates exactly as directed and verify that a gate intended to contain cattle is fully latched. Keep a generous distance, move calmly, preserve an escape route, and never place yourself between a cow and calf, a bull and the herd, or an animal and its only exit. Keep dogs restrained and away from the herd. Drive slowly and wait for cattle to clear rather than forcing a vehicle through a tightly grouped herd. If cattle enter a road, active work zone, runway, taxi path, or other aircraft movement area, stop affected operations, keep others clear, and notify the livestock and site-operations contacts; do not improvise a roundup. Report an injured, trapped, ill, or dead animal without approaching it.
}}

==Domestic dog==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Domestic dog
|image=Domestic-Dog-Canis-lupus-familiaris.jpg
|type=Domestic mammal; canid
|scientific=''Canis lupus familiaris''
|regional=Dog; doggo; pupper; pup; pooch; mutt; doge; good boy or good girl
|origin=Domesticated; introduced with people
|status=Domestic resident; wildlife conservation status not applicable
|benefit=Known, owned resident dogs provide companionship and contribute positively to morale within the Proto-Town community.
|risk=domesticcare
|danger=Individual temperament varies. Bites can cause major injury or infection, and loose dogs can create traffic, livestock, wildlife, and machinery hazards.
|description=Proto-Town has at least three resident dogs. Dogs are part of the managed human community rather than local wildlife, but they interact with nearly every part of the site: people, vehicles, livestock, wild mammals, snakes, ticks, and shared indoor spaces. Identification, vaccination, owner contact information, and clear expectations about restricted work areas make those interactions safer for both dogs and people.
|encounter=Do not assume an unfamiliar dog wants contact; let it approach with its owner’s permission and do not crowd a dog that is eating, sleeping, injured, restrained, or guarding something. After a bite, get to safety, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, identify the animal and owner if possible, and obtain prompt medical or public-health advice about infection, tetanus, and rabies risk.
}}

==Domestic cat==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Domestic cat
|image=Hugo.jpg
|type=Domestic mammal; felid
|scientific=''Felis catus''
|regional=Cat; house cat; kitty; kitty cat; catto; floof; loaf; void (especially a black cat); murder mittens
|origin=Domesticated; introduced with people
|status=Domestic resident; wildlife conservation status not applicable
|benefit=Known, owned resident cats provide companionship and contribute positively to morale within the Proto-Town community.
|risk=domesticcare
|danger=Bites and deep scratches can become infected. Free-roaming cats face vehicles, predators, disease, and machinery and can kill native birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.
|description=Proto-Town has at least one resident cat, [[Hugo]], a tabby cat with fluffy fur. A well-fed cat still retains strong hunting behavior, so the distinction between a managed indoor or enclosed resident and a free-roaming cat matters to the surrounding wildlife guide. Current identification, rabies vaccination, owner contact information, and an indoor or secure outdoor arrangement protect the cat as well as native animals.
|encounter=Allow the cat to choose contact and avoid grabbing a frightened, cornered, or injured animal. Wash bites and scratches promptly with soap and water and seek medical advice, particularly for a bite, a deep hand wound, spreading redness, swelling, fever, or uncertain rabies vaccination status.
}}
}}


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* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/nuisance/feral_hogs/ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: wild pigs]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/nuisance/feral_hogs/ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: wild pigs]
* [https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Venomous-Terrestrial-Animals-of-Texas.pdf Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Venomous Terrestrial Animals of Texas]
* [https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Venomous-Terrestrial-Animals-of-Texas.pdf Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Venomous Terrestrial Animals of Texas]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/nonpwdpubs/introducing_mammals/rabbits/ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: rabbits and hares]
* [https://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_safety/wildlife FAA wildlife-hazard resources]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/txtort/ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Texas tortoise]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/index.phtml?o=anole Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: green anole]
* [https://biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/features/backyard-biodiversity-green-anoles University of Texas Biodiversity Center: green anoles and tail regeneration]
* [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4389898/ Peer-reviewed comparison of original and regenerated green-anole tails]
* [https://ccmgatx.org/resources/articles/article-repository/2022/october/ode-to-the-green-anoles-southern-bug-zappers/ Collin County Master Gardeners: green anole with a brown regenerated tail]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/amphibian_species/ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: frogs and toads of Texas]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/keep-texas-wild/amazing-amphibians/student-research-page Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: amphibian rainfall, breeding, and calls]
* [https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/protecting-pets-from-toxic-amphibians/ Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine: protecting pets from toxic amphibians]
* [https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Brachycephaloidea/Eleutherodactylidae/Eleutherodactylinae/Eleutherodactylus/Eleutherodactylus-campi American Museum of Natural History: ''Eleutherodactylus campi'' taxonomy]
* [https://www.inaturalist.org/lists/4198 Caldwell County amphibian observations on iNaturalist]
* [https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cattle_Handling_and_Working_Facilities_Ohio_St_Univ_3.pdf Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: cattle handling and working facilities]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/veterinary/about/hazards.html CDC/NIOSH: animal-contact injuries and safe handling]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-137/default.html CDC/NIOSH: animal safety on farms]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/index.html CDC: rabies prevention and animal exposures]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/capnocytophaga/about/index.html CDC: infections after dog and cat bites]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/texas-junior-naturalists/watching-wildlife/cats-inside Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: cats and wildlife]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/after-killing-a-deer/ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: handling harvested deer and game]
* [https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animals/rabbits-and-hares Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: rabbit and hare regulations]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/php/animal-health/index.html CDC: hunting, wild hogs, and brucellosis prevention]
* [https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart USDA FSIS: safe internal temperatures]


[[Category:Wildlife of Proto-Town]]
[[Category:Wildlife of Proto-Town]]

Latest revision as of 08:57, 19 July 2026

Wildlife guide: Overview · Plants · Fungi · Animals · Birds · Bugs · Microbial life

Edibility disclaimer: An edibility label says only that the organism is conventionally eaten in Western foodways or is recognized as a survival food. It is not an identification guarantee, permission to harvest, legal guidance, preparation instructions, or a statement that a particular specimen is safe. Misidentification, disease, contamination, pesticides, allergies, spoilage, season, protected status, hunting and foraging rules, landowner authorization, and required processing can all make consumption unsafe or illegal. Do not forage, hunt, trap, harvest, butcher, or eat anything based only on this guide. Consult Proto-Town management for current foraging or hunting information before attempting it yourself, and follow all applicable laws and expert safety guidance.

Wild animals should be observed from a distance and never fed. An animal that is unusually tame, staggering, circling, repeatedly approaching people, or unable to use its limbs may be injured or ill; keep people and pets away and notify the appropriate local authority.

White-tailed deer

White-tailed deer
White-tailed deer
Type Mammal; deer
Scientific name Odocoileus virginianus
Texan regional name Whitetail
Origin Native
Conservation status Game animal; not federally listed
Edibility CONVENTIONALLY EATEN GAME Venison. Legal season, license, tagging, land authorization, carcass rules, and safe field handling apply.
Hazard PAINFUL OR SIGNIFICANT DANGER
Major vehicle-strike hazard. Cornered adults, rutting bucks, and does defending fawns can kick or gore.

White-tailed deer are common at woodland edges, fields, and roads, especially near dawn and dusk. Their browsing shapes vegetation and can damage plantings where populations are dense. A raised white tail is the most conspicuous alarm signal as a deer bounds away.

Encounter guidance: Slow down when one deer crosses a road because others often follow. Do not approach or “rescue” a motionless fawn unless a wildlife professional directs you to do so.


Northern raccoon

Northern raccoon
Northern raccoon
Type Mammal; carnivoran
Scientific name Procyon lotor
Texan regional name Raccoon; coon
Origin Native
Conservation status Furbearer; not federally listed


Hazard PAINFUL OR SIGNIFICANT DANGER
Can bite and transmit rabies; droppings may contain raccoon roundworm eggs.

Raccoons are adaptable nocturnal omnivores recognized by a black facial mask and ringed tail. They investigate trash, feed, water, attics, and cavities with dexterous front paws. Secure food waste and animal feed to avoid teaching them to associate buildings with meals.

Encounter guidance: Give the animal an open escape route, bring pets inside, and do not corner or feed it. A bite or scratch requires immediate washing and prompt medical evaluation for rabies risk.


Virginia opossum

Virginia opossum
Virginia opossum
Type Mammal; marsupial
Scientific name Didelphis virginiana
Texan regional name Opossum; possum
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally listed
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Consumes carrion, insects, and other small animals, contributing to nutrient cycling and natural cleanup.
Hazard NUISANCE / USE CARE
May hiss, bare teeth, or bite if handled, but is usually defensive rather than aggressive.

The Virginia opossum is North America’s only native marsupial. It forages at night for insects, carrion, fruit, and other foods and often uses brush piles or spaces beneath structures. Its open-mouthed threat display looks formidable, while “playing possum” is an involuntary shutdown response.

Encounter guidance: Keep back and allow it to leave. If one is under a structure, remove attractants and wait until it departs before sealing the opening; do not pick it up.


Nine-banded armadillo

Nine-banded armadillo
Nine-banded armadillo
Type Mammal; armadillo
Scientific name Dasypus novemcinctus
Texan regional name Armadillo
Origin Native to the Americas; naturally expanded into Texas
Conservation status Not federally listed
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Consumes many soil invertebrates; digging in natural areas mixes and aerates surface soil.
Hazard NUISANCE / USE CARE
Sharp claws can injure handlers. Some armadillos carry the bacterium associated with Hansen disease, so handling is discouraged.

Armadillos forage for insects and other invertebrates by digging conical holes in lawns, beds, and soft soil. They are mostly active at night and may jump vertically when startled, which contributes to road collisions. The flexible bands across the middle of the shell distinguish the nine-banded species.

Encounter guidance: Observe without touching and let it move away. Keep pets from harassing it and wear gloves if official duties require contact with a carcass.


Coyote

Coyote
Coyote
Type Mammal; canid
Scientific name Canis latrans
Texan regional name Coyote
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally listed
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Helps regulate rodents and rabbits and removes carrion from the landscape.
Hazard PAINFUL OR SIGNIFICANT DANGER
Usually avoids people but can threaten unattended pets; habituated or cornered animals may bite.

Coyotes occur throughout Texas and adapt readily to farms, campuses, and towns. They eat rodents, rabbits, insects, fruit, carrion, and unsecured food waste. Yips and group howls can make a small number of animals sound like a large pack.

Encounter guidance: Do not run. Stand tall, face the animal, shout, wave, and slowly create distance while allowing an escape route. Bring small pets inside and report repeated bold approach behavior.


Feral hog

Feral hog
Feral hog
Type Mammal; pig
Scientific name Sus scrofa
Texan regional name Feral hog; wild pig
Origin Introduced; invasive
Conservation status Non-native and not protected as a game animal in Texas
Edibility CONVENTIONALLY EATEN GAME Wild pork. Wear protective equipment while handling a carcass and cook thoroughly; feral swine can transmit brucellosis and other disease.
Hazard PAINFUL OR SIGNIFICANT DANGER
Large animals can charge or slash with tusks when cornered, wounded, or defending young; they also carry diseases transmissible to livestock and people.

Feral hogs are widespread in Texas and leave rooted soil, wallows, tracks, and extensive crop or habitat damage. They are intelligent omnivores that compete with native wildlife and reproduce rapidly. Groups of females and young are called sounders.

Encounter guidance: Do not approach or block the animal’s escape. Move calmly toward a vehicle, building, or substantial barrier; keep dogs restrained. Report repeated activity or damage to the land manager rather than attempting capture.


Western diamondback rattlesnake

Western diamondback rattlesnake
Western diamondback rattlesnake
Type Reptile; pit viper
Scientific name Crotalus atrox
Texan regional name Western diamondback; diamondback rattler
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally listed
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
An important native predator of rodents and other small animals.
Hazard CAN BE FATAL IF UNTREATED
Venomous bite can cause severe tissue injury, bleeding, shock, and death without timely treatment.

The western diamondback is a heavy-bodied snake with dark diamond markings and contrasting black-and-white tail bands before the rattle. It uses grassland, scrub, rocky cover, and structures that shelter rodents. A rattle is a warning, but rattles can be broken and a snake may strike without sounding.

Encounter guidance: Stop, locate the snake, and slowly back away; give it several body lengths of space. For a bite, call 911, remove rings and tight items, keep the person still, and wait for emergency care. Do not cut, suck, ice, shock, or tourniquet the bite.


Western ratsnake

Western ratsnake
Western ratsnake
Type Reptile; nonvenomous snake
Scientific name Pantherophis obsoletus
Texan regional name Texas ratsnake; chicken snake
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally listed
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Provides valuable rodent control around fields, woodland edges, and structures.
Hazard NUISANCE / USE CARE
Nonvenomous but may bite and release foul musk when grabbed.

Western ratsnakes are large, patterned constrictors frequently seen climbing trees, rafters, and walls in search of rodents, birds, or eggs. They are beneficial rodent predators and are often mistaken for venomous snakes because they may flatten the head or vibrate the tail when frightened.

Encounter guidance: Do not handle it. Give it an exit and keep pets away; if removal from an occupied work area is necessary, contact a qualified wildlife responder.


Eastern cottontail

Eastern cottontail
Eastern cottontail
Type Mammal; rabbit
Scientific name Sylvilagus floridanus
Texan regional name Cottontail; brush rabbit
Origin Native
Conservation status Nongame animal; not federally listed
Edibility CONVENTIONALLY EATEN GAME Rabbit meat. Hunting law, land authorization, sanitary field handling, and thorough cooking apply.
Hazard No special hazard label

The eastern cottontail is the likely small rabbit around Proto-Town: brown-gray, relatively short-eared, and marked by a round white tail that flashes while it runs. It feeds on grasses and forbs near brush, field edges, gardens, and roadsides and seldom travels far from protective cover. A hare or jackrabbit is larger, longer-legged, and much longer-eared.

Encounter guidance: A motionless young rabbit is often hiding normally rather than abandoned. Keep people and pets back and contact a wildlife rehabilitator only if it is visibly injured or a professional confirms that intervention is needed.


Texas tortoise

Texas tortoise
Texas tortoise
Type Reptile; tortoise
Scientific name Gopherus berlandieri
Texan regional name Texas tortoise
Origin Native to South-Central and South Texas
Conservation status Threatened and protected under Texas law
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Native herbivore that disperses seeds and contributes to South Texas plant communities.
Hazard NUISANCE / USE CARE
The animal is protected: collecting, possessing, transporting, selling, or harming a wild Texas tortoise is illegal. Unnecessary relocation can kill it.

The Texas tortoise has column-like hind legs and a tan to dark shell with yellow-orange centers on the scutes. Adults normally reach about 8½ inches in shell length. The tortoise-shaped animal observed at Proto-Town was estimated at roughly 8 inches, which is therefore consistent with an adult Texas tortoise rather than an exceptionally large or exotic giant tortoise. Caldwell County remains north of the species’ commonly documented county range, and a three-toed box turtle can look similar at a glance, so a photograph of the shell, hind feet, and head is still needed for confident identification.

Encounter guidance: In the wild, leave it alone. If immediate road danger can be addressed safely, move it only across the road in the direction it was already traveling and never relocate it elsewhere. In a developed area, photograph it and contact TPWD or a qualified wildlife rehabilitator. Do not collect it: Texas tortoises are protected under state law.


Three-toed box turtle

Three-toed box turtle
Three-toed box turtle
Type Reptile; terrestrial turtle
Scientific name Terrapene carolina triunguis
Texan regional name Box turtle; three-toed box turtle
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally listed; native wildlife regulations apply
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Consumes invertebrates and fallen fruit and can disperse seeds through woodland and grassland edges.
Hazard NUISANCE / USE CARE
Road traffic is a major danger to the turtle. Removing one from its home area can reduce its chance of survival.

This domed land turtle inhabits woodland edges, brushy fields, and moist shaded areas and may be mistaken for a small tortoise. The Texas subspecies usually has three toes on each hind foot, a hinged lower shell, and variable brown, yellow, or orange markings. It can close the shell tightly when frightened.

Encounter guidance: Leave it where it is. If it is in immediate road danger and you can stop safely, move it a short distance to the side it was already facing; never take it home or relocate it to a distant “better” habitat.


Green anole

Green anole
Green anole
Type Reptile; lizard
Scientific name Anolis carolinensis
Texan regional name Green anole; American anole; often called a chameleon
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally listed
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Consumes insects and spiders on vegetation, fences, and building exteriors.
Hazard No special hazard label

Green anoles are slender climbing lizards found on shrubs, trees, fences, and walls. They can change from bright green through mottled shades to brown, but they do not have to be uniformly colored. The form repeatedly observed at Proto-Town—a green body with a sharply divided brown tail beginning near the tail base—is consistent with a green anole that has dropped and regenerated most of its tail. The regenerated portion is structurally different from the original tail and may not match the body’s color or texture. Several bicolored individuals therefore do not necessarily indicate another species; they may indicate that several local anoles have survived attacks or other tail-loss events. Identification should also use the long pointed head, slender build, expanded adhesive toe pads, and, on displaying males, a pink-red throat fan called a dewlap.

Encounter guidance: No action is normally needed. Never grab an anole by the tail, which can detach as a defensive response. Let an indoor visitor leave through an open door or gently guide it into a container without squeezing it. A clear photograph showing the head, toes, body scales, and the tail junction is much more useful for confirmation than color alone.


Gulf Coast toad

Gulf Coast toad
Gulf Coast toad
Type Amphibian; true toad
Scientific name Incilius nebulifer
Texan regional name Gulf Coast toad; coastal plains toad
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally or state listed
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Nocturnal predator of insects and other small invertebrates, including many encountered around lights.
Hazard NUISANCE / USE CARE
Skin glands release irritating secretions when the toad is threatened. Handling may irritate eyes or broken skin, and a dog that mouths a toad may drool, foam, paw at the mouth, vomit, or develop more serious symptoms.

The Gulf Coast toad is the most likely chunky, warty toad around buildings after a warm rain. It is gray, tan, brown, or olive with a pale stripe down the back, dark blotches, prominent ridges on the head, and large glands behind the eyes. Adults shelter in soil, sprinkler boxes, debris, and other cool recesses by day, then emerge at night to eat insects around lights. Very small “baby toads” may appear in numbers after tadpoles leave temporary water.

Encounter guidance: Let it move away and wash hands after accidental contact. Keep dogs from licking or biting it. If a pet mouths a toad, remove the pet from the area and call a veterinarian; for mild mouth irritation, Texas A&M advises gently wiping the inside of the mouth with a damp cloth rather than forcing running water into it. Seek emergency veterinary care for tremors, seizures, weakness, breathing difficulty, collapse, or unresponsiveness.


Rio Grande chirping frog

Rio Grande chirping frog
Rio Grande chirping frog
Type Amphibian; direct-developing frog
Scientific name Eleutherodactylus campi; older sources use E. cystignathoides campi or E. cystignathoides
Texan regional name Rio Grande chirping frog; chirping frog
Origin Native to South Texas and northeastern Mexico; introduced and established in Central Texas
Conservation status Not federally or state listed


Hazard No special hazard label

This tiny brown, gray, or olive frog is often only about an inch long and may be noticed after rain beneath pots, boards, leaf litter, landscaping, or inside damp ground-level rooms. Its repeated peep or squeaky chirp is easily mistaken for an insect. Unlike most frogs, it does not need a pond for tadpoles: eggs are laid in moist sheltered places and hatch directly into miniature frogs. Nursery plants have helped spread it beyond its original South Texas range.

Encounter guidance: No special action is needed. Avoid squeezing or handling it with dry, chemical-contaminated hands; gently guide an indoor frog into a damp container and release it into nearby sheltered vegetation away from traffic and pets.


Blanchard's cricket frog

Blanchard's cricket frog
Blanchard's cricket frog
Type Amphibian; small treefrog relative
Scientific name Acris blanchardi
Texan regional name Cricket frog; Blanchard's cricket frog
Origin Native
Conservation status Not federally or state listed in Texas
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Consumes small insects and forms part of the native wetland food web.
Hazard No special hazard label

This very small, rough-skinned frog lives along pond edges, ditches, puddles, creeks, and other shallow water. Color varies from gray and brown to greenish, often with dark triangular markings and a brighter stripe along the back. It makes a rapid series of clicks resembling two pebbles tapped together and may become conspicuous around temporary water after rain. It is a frog, not a juvenile toad.

Encounter guidance: Watch where you step near puddles and drainage edges and let it jump to cover. Do not move frogs between ponds, since moving amphibians can spread disease and disrupt local populations.


Domestic cattle

Domestic cattle
Domestic cattle
Type Domestic mammal; grazing livestock
Scientific name Bos taurus; some herds may include Bos indicus ancestry
Texan regional name Cattle; cow, bull, steer, heifer, or calf according to sex and age
Origin Domesticated; introduced with people
Conservation status Welcomed and managed resident livestock; wildlife conservation status not applicable
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Managed grazing and livestock production provide land-management and agricultural value to Proto-Town.
Edibility COMMON FOOD Beef. Proto-Town's resident cattle are managed livestock and are not available for individual harvesting or butchering.
Hazard DOMESTIC LARGE ANIMAL — SIGNIFICANT HAZARD
Cattle are powerful animals capable of kicking, charging, trampling, crushing a person against a fence or vehicle, or goring with horns. Large animals on roads or aircraft movement areas can cause severe or fatal collisions.

Cattle are welcomed as managed grazing livestock and are permitted to move through designated parts of Proto-Town’s land. They are not loose wildlife, even when no handler is visible. Individual temperament, maternal behavior, herd movement, unfamiliar people, dogs, vehicles, noise, confined spaces, and access to feed can all change how cattle respond. A calm-looking animal still has a wide kicking arc and can move much faster than a person at close range.

Encounter guidance: Do not feed, pet, chase, shout at, ride, herd, separate, or attempt to treat cattle unless the livestock manager has assigned and trained you for that work. Leave gates exactly as directed and verify that a gate intended to contain cattle is fully latched. Keep a generous distance, move calmly, preserve an escape route, and never place yourself between a cow and calf, a bull and the herd, or an animal and its only exit. Keep dogs restrained and away from the herd. Drive slowly and wait for cattle to clear rather than forcing a vehicle through a tightly grouped herd. If cattle enter a road, active work zone, runway, taxi path, or other aircraft movement area, stop affected operations, keep others clear, and notify the livestock and site-operations contacts; do not improvise a roundup. Report an injured, trapped, ill, or dead animal without approaching it.


Domestic dog

Domestic dog
Domestic dog
Type Domestic mammal; canid
Scientific name Canis lupus familiaris
Texan regional name Dog; doggo; pupper; pup; pooch; mutt; doge; good boy or good girl
Origin Domesticated; introduced with people
Conservation status Domestic resident; wildlife conservation status not applicable
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Known, owned resident dogs provide companionship and contribute positively to morale within the Proto-Town community.
Hazard DOMESTIC USE CARE
Individual temperament varies. Bites can cause major injury or infection, and loose dogs can create traffic, livestock, wildlife, and machinery hazards.

Proto-Town has at least three resident dogs. Dogs are part of the managed human community rather than local wildlife, but they interact with nearly every part of the site: people, vehicles, livestock, wild mammals, snakes, ticks, and shared indoor spaces. Identification, vaccination, owner contact information, and clear expectations about restricted work areas make those interactions safer for both dogs and people.

Encounter guidance: Do not assume an unfamiliar dog wants contact; let it approach with its owner’s permission and do not crowd a dog that is eating, sleeping, injured, restrained, or guarding something. After a bite, get to safety, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, identify the animal and owner if possible, and obtain prompt medical or public-health advice about infection, tetanus, and rabies risk.


Domestic cat

Domestic cat
Domestic cat
Type Domestic mammal; felid
Scientific name Felis catus
Texan regional name Cat; house cat; kitty; kitty cat; catto; floof; loaf; void (especially a black cat); murder mittens
Origin Domesticated; introduced with people
Conservation status Domestic resident; wildlife conservation status not applicable
Ecological or economic value BENEFICIAL
Known, owned resident cats provide companionship and contribute positively to morale within the Proto-Town community.
Hazard DOMESTIC USE CARE
Bites and deep scratches can become infected. Free-roaming cats face vehicles, predators, disease, and machinery and can kill native birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.

Proto-Town has at least one resident cat, Hugo, a tabby cat with fluffy fur. A well-fed cat still retains strong hunting behavior, so the distinction between a managed indoor or enclosed resident and a free-roaming cat matters to the surrounding wildlife guide. Current identification, rabies vaccination, owner contact information, and an indoor or secure outdoor arrangement protect the cat as well as native animals.

Encounter guidance: Allow the cat to choose contact and avoid grabbing a frightened, cornered, or injured animal. Wash bites and scratches promptly with soap and water and seek medical advice, particularly for a bite, a deep hand wound, spreading redness, swelling, fever, or uncertain rabies vaccination status.


Sources

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