One of the TPW agents told me that fireants are what are killing the quail and most ground nesting birds.
Since they nest on the ground, the ants wait until they are hatching, then swarm. Can't go far without finding a fireant mound around here.
Used to have coveys of quail all over our place.
Haven't seen a single bird in over 8 years.


I used to see rattlesnakes all the time around here and had some dens in the sandstone and red rock formations along the gulleys and ditches.
My uncle used to catch tons of them to sell.
Haven't seen any in a couple of years, even the Copperheads are down in numbers.

Could be pigs, could be draught or possible fireants jumping on the baby snakes.

But there are very few snakes around and NO quail here at all.

I used to be loaded with quail but they started declining 15 or so years ago. They were gone before the fire ants showed up.

I rarely see rattlers but know they are there. Unless they are around the house or barn, I don't make a sport out of killing them. An exception: I have a mobile home on my place. It is tied down and under pinned. I have to keep mouse pellets under cabinets to kill the mice. When the mice aren't getting into things, it is usually because a snake is under there. That's when I make an exception of not wanting them around the house.