Pests such as cutworms, armyworms, grasshoppers and range caterpillars may infest pastures, but treating them with insecticides is not often necessary. Red imponed fire ants can be a serious problem on rangeland in some areas of Texas, and insecticides may be necessary to control them. Because of the limited use of insecticides on rangeland, however, this publication will focus on the effects of herbicides on wildlife. About 65 percent of the land in Texas is rangeland or pasture land used primarily for livestock grazing. These are food for both livestock and wildlife.
Rangelands also are important as watersheds and recreational areas.
There are moderate to dense stands of brush on approximately 66 million acres of Texas rangeland. Excessive brush or undesirable brush species can make land of little use for grazing, so ranchers use a variety of methods, including herbicides, to control brush. Most landowners enjoy and appreciate wildlife on their property, and hunting and fishing leases are an additional source of income for many ranchers. If ranchers desire to manage their land for both livestock and wildlife, intelligent decisions must be made about the habitat. Wildlife and livestock usually are compatible.