Description of Region

The southern high plains of Texas are a diverse mixture of grasslands, playa lakes, and canyon lands interspersed with row crop agriculture, cattle feed lots, and urban areas.  Wildlife is abundant and diverse because of the presence of both eastern and western species.  Canyons and playa lakes increase the diversity of habitats and wildlife. Wildlife species common to the area include white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorn, roadrunners, coyotes, gray foxes, porcupines, prairie dogs, tarantulas, horned lizards, burrowing owls, and diamondback and prairie rattlesnakes.

While the southern high plains of Texas are sparsely populated by most standards, the area has been heavily impacted by agricultural activities.  Historically the southern high plains were dominated by shortgrass prairie but row crop agriculture has replaced large tracts of grasslands and cattle have replaced once vast herds of bison.  Today about 30% of all US cattle on feed are housed in feedlots on the southern high plains of Texas.  Large areas of grasslands remain but fire suppression and over grazing have led to the degradation of grasslands and the invasion of woody vegetation.