WILDLIFE IDENTIFICATION

EXOTIC SPECIESExotic species are foreign animals which have been introducedinto Texas. Some species like the ring-necked pheasant werehighly successful with their introduction and are so abundant thatthey are considered a prized game bird in most states. Otherssuch as the white rhinoceros have been introduced into Texas inhopes to prevent their extinction.Exotic deer species have been popularly introduced into Texas,and represent a significant huntable species to sportsmen. Someexotics were originally brought to America during its discovery,and many have been domesticated to serve man’s need. Gamepreserves stock exotic species much like they would raiseagricultural crops.Most exotics have restricted movement because of game-prooffencing and are owned by landowners. Some “free-roaming”exotics have expanded their range into neighboring counties.Exotic species are somewhat controversial because they canout-compete many of the native species such as white-taileddeer. It is important that landowners use hunters to controlexotic numbers just as hunters are used in wildlife managementby the states.Exotics have many ecological, recreational, economical and certainaesthetic impacts and values in the State of Texas. Some includethe axis deer, fallow deer, sika deer, blackbuck antelope, nilgaiantelope, aoudad or barbary sheep, mouflan sheep, Europeanwild boar and red deer.Exotic Species 39