The Hill Country Wildlife Yearbook: What Creeps, Crawls, and Grazes Each Month

Last verified: September 1, 2026

Consider this your yearbook for the Hill Country, not a horror story. Every month around here, a different cast of characters moves through the lawns, brush lines, and limestone hills between Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, San Antonio, and the surrounding counties. Fire ants mound after a rain. Scorpions may move into cooler parts of a structure when extreme heat makes attics and other sheltered spaces too hot. Termite swarmers take to the air on a warm morning. Deer pressure builds, armadillos dig, coyotes get bold, and a mole or pocket gopher reshapes a corner of the yard.

None of it is out of the ordinary, and almost none of it is worth losing sleep over. But it is worth knowing about before it shows up. This guide lays out, month by month, which of the eight regulars in the year-at-a-glance table you are most likely to meet, what each one is actually doing, and what genuinely helps. It also covers the small mammals that share the Hill Country yard: skunks, foxes, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and rabbits, plus the lizards and amphibians that show up on the same fences, ponds, and stock tanks. No product endorsements, no scare tactics, no snake oil. Just what to expect and what actually works, based on the straightforward guidance Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Parks and Wildlife put out.

We keep a few practical references alongside this one. If you are also staying on top of the seasons, the site's Texas Hill Country home maintenance calendar covers what the property itself needs each month, and the native plant and vegetable planting calendar covers the soil side. This yearbook sits right beside those, so the whole year is in one spot.

Your year at a glance

Here is the bookmarkable core: a month-by-month homeowner encounter and management calendar. "High," "moderate," and "low" do not represent scientific population measurements. They indicate the relative likelihood that a Hill Country homeowner will notice a particular animal or pest, encounter a seasonal behavior such as swarming or rutting, or have a useful management action to take.

Two honest caveats before you rely on this. First, exact timing shifts with weather and elevation: an early warm spell pulls activity forward, a late cold stretch holds it back, and higher limestone country runs a beat behind the lower, warmer valleys around San Antonio. Second, the table shows relative homeowner relevance, not absolute biological activity. A "low" month for deer is still a month you will see deer, and a "high" month for fire ants is a warning to treat, not a guarantee of mounds in every yard. Use the table as a lookout, not a promise.

The creatures, one by one

Here is the closer look at each of the eight regulars: what it is, what it does in the Hill Country, when homeowners are most likely to notice it or have a useful management window, what actually works, and what you can safely skip.

Fire ants

Red imported fire ants are an invasive pest, not a native, and they cost Texas an estimated $1.2 billion a year in damage and control [1]. They often become much more conspicuous after a good rain, when moist soil makes mound construction easier and fresh mounds appear across lawns and pastures. During hot, dry periods colonies may remain active deeper in the soil even when visible mounds become less obvious.

Warm-season treatment works best when worker ants are actively foraging and carrying bait back to the colony. Spring is an important treatment window, but Texas A&M specifically identifies late August through early October as an ideal time for broadcast bait because ants are still actively foraging and weather conditions are often more predictable [1][2].

For bait treatments, choose a warm, dry window when worker ants are actively foraging. Texas A&M recommends applying bait when the ground and grass are dry and no rain is expected for the next 2448 hours [21].

What works: the approach Texas A&M AgriLife calls the Texas Two-Step: broadcast bait across the yard in spring and fall, then treat the stubborn individual mounds directly [1][2]. The broadcast step is what catches the hidden colonies you never see.

What doesn't reliably work: boiling water is inconsistent rather than completely ineffective. Texas A&M reports that pouring 23 gallons of very hot or boiling water onto a mound kills the ants about 60 percent of the time; when it fails, the colony may relocate, and the hot water can kill surrounding turf or vegetation. Broadcast bait followed by targeted mound treatment is the more practical approach [1][2].

Scorpions

Texas has 18 documented scorpion species, but most have limited ranges. The striped bark scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) occurs throughout the state and is the species Hill Country homeowners are most likely to encounter [3][4]. It runs about 23 inches, tan with dark stripes, and it has one seriously fun party trick: it glows under ultraviolet light, which makes a blacklight hunt at night genuinely effective.

First aid for stings: Wash the area with mild soap and water, apply an ice pack to reduce pain, and monitor for severe reactions [3][4].

Striped bark scorpions are adapted to dry habitats but spend daylight hours sheltered under rocks, boards, firewood, bark, debris, and other protected crevices. They also climb trees, walls, and structures, and during very hot weather may move from attics or other overheated spaces into cooler parts of a home [3][4].

What works: Move wood piles away from walls, seal gaps, and use a UV blacklight at night.

What doesn't: Glue traps and pesticides alone do not resolve the root habitat [3][4].

Snakes

Only about 15 percent of Texas snakes are venomous; the vast majority are harmless and useful for rodent control [5]. The four venomous groups worth being able to recognize are rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes [6].

Snakes generally hibernate in winter and emerge from dens in late February or March as the weather warms, becoming most active in the warm months [5]. Texas Parks and Wildlife's practical advice when you encounter a snake is simple: leave it alone, give it plenty of room, and move away calmly. A threatened snake may defend itself, but giving it space allows it to move on without escalating the encounter [5][6].

What works: keep grass mowed, move wood piles and brush away from the house, do not reach or step where you cannot see, and check around foundations [5].

What doesn't: killing every snake removes harmless species that help control rodents. Approaching, cornering, or handling a venomous snake also increases the risk of a defensive bite; TPWD says bites usually occur when a snake is surprised or cornered or when someone handles it [5][6].

Bite emergency: Treat a suspected venomous snakebite as a medical emergency. Get professional medical help immediately. Call 911, and the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222 can provide additional case-specific guidance. Keep the person calm and as still as practical, and remove rings, watches, or other constricting items before swelling begins. Do not cut the wound, attempt to suck out venom, apply ice, use a tourniquet, or attempt to capture or kill the snake [5][6][22].

Termite swarmers

Subterranean termite swarmers can appear at different times depending on species, weather, and location. Texas A&M says termite swarms are most commonly seen from February through May in Texas, while the common eastern subterranean termite is typically encountered swarming during daylight in spring. Texas drywood termites generally swarm later; the most common drywood species typically produces nighttime swarms in late August and early September. Finding termite swarmers indoors is a reliable indication that the structure should be professionally inspected [12][14]. Texas A&M notes that the most common Texas drywood termite species typically swarms at night in late August and early September [14].

How to tell swarmers from flying ants: termites have four wings of equal length and a thick, straight waist, while flying ants have pinched waists and uneven wing pairs.

What works: do not panic, and do not vacuum-and-forget. If termite swarmers appear indoors, or if you find suspicious mud shelter tubes on the foundation or structure, have the home professionally inspected. Termites or swarmers found outdoors do not by themselves prove that the house is infested, although their presence is a reason to inspect the structure for other signs [12][14]. The site's local pest control contractor directory lists regional options to start from.

What doesn't: spraying only the visible swarmers does not eliminate the source colony. Subterranean termites live in association with the soil, while drywood termites establish colonies within sound, dry wood above ground, so correct identification matters before treatment [12][14].

Armadillos

The only armadillo in the United States is the nine-banded armadillo, and it is common in the Hill Country. It is genuinely beneficial because it eats insects, grubs, and earthworms, but that is exactly why it digs shallow holes and uproots plants in lawns, beds, and gardens [7].

Armadillos can cause digging damage whenever they are actively foraging. Texas A&M notes that their daily activity pattern changes with the season: during summer they are active primarily from twilight through early morning, while in winter they may be active during the daytime [7].

What works: reduce attractive insect and invertebrate food sources where appropriate, remove brush or other cover that encourages burrowing, and use exclusion where practical. Texas A&M recommends an exclusion fence slanted outward at about a 40-degree angle with at least 18 inches buried. Cage trapping can also be effective [7].

Texas A&M notes that armadillos may legally be trapped, but anyone intending to relocate a captured armadillo should notify the appropriate local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department representative. Local rules and property restrictions should also be checked before trapping [7].

What doesn't reliably work: Texas A&M notes that no fumigants, toxicants, or repellents are registered specifically for armadillo control. Habitat modification, exclusion, and properly conducted trapping are more defensible approaches than relying on unverified scent remedies [7].

Deer

White-tailed deer are everywhere in the Hill Country. Does generally fawn in late spring and early summer. The rut begins later in the fall than many people assume and varies considerably across the Edwards Plateau. TPWD research found conception dates ranging from October 9 through January 30, with peak breeding around November 7 in the eastern Edwards Plateau, November 24 in the central Plateau, and December 5 in the western Plateau [8][9][13].

During the rut, deer move more and roadway encounters increase. TxDOT specifically warns that deer movement is elevated from October through December and is especially pronounced in the early morning and late evening. On feeder roads and county highways around Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch during that period, slow down and watch the road edges and fence lines [25].

What works: enjoy deer from a distance, reduce speed when deer are active near roads, and protect valuable landscaping with physical fencing or by favoring plants that deer are less likely to browse [25][26].

What doesn't: supplemental feeding increases disease risk, deer-vehicle collisions, habituation to humans, and changes normal deer behavior [26]. It can also concentrate deer around homes and other feeding locations. Resist the urge to put out corn or hay, however well-meant. If you live inside Fair Oaks Ranch city limits, there is another reason not to feed them: feeding deer and other wildlife is prohibited under City Ordinance 2016-02 and violations may result in fines. Rules vary elsewhere, so residents outside Fair Oaks Ranch should check their own municipal or HOA requirements [16].

Coyotes

Coyotes live throughout Texas and are naturally wary of people. The conflict you hear about usually traces back to food, pets left out, or wildlife that someone started feeding by hand [10]. Coyotes are active year-round. TPWD notes that they hunt at all hours but may be seen more often in the early morning or just before sunset [27]. Breeding generally occurs from mid-January through early March; after a gestation period of approximately 6365 days, pups are born in spring [28].

For dogs and small pets, the practical rule is simple: keep them inside or supervised around dawn and dusk. If a coyote is too bold and does not leave when it should, haze it by yelling, waving your arms, and throwing rocks, so it stays afraid of people [10].

What works: secure trash and compost, do not leave pet food or water outside, keep small pets inside or supervised at dawn and dusk, and haze a bold coyote so it stays wary of people [10].

What doesn't: intentionally feeding wildlife, leaving pets unsupervised, or relying on routine trapping or removal alone to solve a neighborhood-wide coyote problem. TPWD says trapping and similar nuisance-control actions cannot eliminate urban coyote problems, although they can be part of the solution in some situations. Reducing attractants, supervising pets, and hazing overly bold coyotes are core preventive measures [10].

Moles and pocket gophers

Two different diggers cause most yard damage, and telling them apart matters. Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents whose activity shows up as fan-shaped dirt mounds, and a single gopher can move a surprising amount of soil in a year. Moles leave raised surface tunnels, the soft ridges that run across a lawn [11][15].

The two animals should not be treated as having identical seasonal behavior. Texas A&M says pocket-gopher control is best conducted in spring and fall, when gophers are most active near the surface [11]. Moles can be trapped during any season, although locating and working active tunnels becomes impractical when the soil is extremely dry or frozen [15].

What works: identify the animal first because the tunnel-finding methods differ. For pocket gophers, locate the newest mound and probe the soil roughly 68 inches from the mound on the side with the characteristic depression to find the main runway [11]. For moles, depress a short section of a visible surface tunnel in the evening and check it the following morning; a tunnel that has been raised again is active and is an appropriate location for a mole trap [15].

What doesn't: treating the two animals as though they are interchangeable. For example, Texas A&M says poisoning moles with conventional grain bait is usually ineffective because moles normally do not eat grain [15]. Correct identification should come before selecting a control method.

Skunks

The skunk you meet in the Hill Country is almost always the striped skunk, Texas' most common and most widespread species [30][31]. Texas hosts five skunk species, more than any other state, but the hooded skunk is essentially confined to the Big Bend region and the hog-nosed skunk to the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, so the striped version does the heavy lifting in our neighborhoods [31][32].

What works: Skunks are nighttime neighbors. Remove the reasons to visit: pet food left out, open trash, and gaps under sheds, decks, and porches. Skunks readily den under a slab or outbuilding, so seal ground-level openings in late winter, before young are born in spring [30][31].

What doesn't: Startling a skunk is how the spraying happens. They give warning by raising the tail and stamping their feet, and they would rather walk away than spray; a dog that gets too close is the most common trigger for a spray [30][32]. A skunk that is simply passing through needs no trapping or removal.

Like foxes and raccoons, skunks are one of the species Texas health agencies watch for rabies. Never handle one, keep pets' rabies vaccinations current, and contact animal control if a skunk is active in daylight and acting lethargic, uncoordinated, or unafraid [30].

Foxes

The gray fox is the fox most Hill Country residents actually see. It is native to Texas, our most common resident fox, and the only American canid that climbs trees, which it uses both to escape danger and to reach food [33][40]. It is a compact animal, typically well under 15 pounds, with salt-and-pepper gray fur, rusty legs, and a black-tipped tail [33][40].

What works: Gray foxes eat rodents, rabbits, and insects, so their presence is generally a sign of a healthy rural property. Keep small pets in at night and close off crawlspaces; a fox will use a convenient den under a shed as readily as a hollow log or rock pile [33][40].

What doesn't: Feeding foxes turns a wary wild animal into a bold one and trains it to hang around houses and pets. A fox seen during the day is not automatically sick, but one that approaches people, stumbles, or ignores its surroundings deserves a call to animal control [33].

Raccoons

The common raccoon is our most adaptable backyard mammal, a stocky 720-pound animal with a masked face, ringed tail, and forepaws nearly as nimble as ours [34]. It occurs throughout Texas and is most at home where water, trees, and roofs meet [34].

What works: Secure trash cans with locking lids, bring pet food inside at night, and cap chimneys, attic vents, and other roof openings. Raccoons are strong and persistent, so bungee cords rarely hold; use containers designed to resist them [34].

What doesn't: Raccoons are a primary rabies vector in Texas. Never feed them, never handle one or its droppings, and keep pets' rabies shots current. A raccoon moving in daylight is not automatically sick, but one that is wobbly, aggressive, or unafraid warrants a call to animal control [34].

Virginia Opossum

The Virginia opossum, North America's only marsupial, is a cat-sized, grayish animal with a pointed snout and a long, scaly tail, and it is one of the least threatening creatures in the Hill Country yard [35]. It is mainly a woodland species, but it thrives around farms, creeks, and neighborhoods [35].

What works: An opossum is a cleanup crew: it eats insects, carrion, and fallen fruit, and it does not dig up lawns, spray, or attack. Give it space and it will move on. Secure pet food and trash so it does not become a regular [35].

What doesn't: Opossums do not need to be trapped or rescued, and they are not aggressive. A hissing, mouth-open opossum is bluffing, not attacking; the famous "playing possum" act is an involuntary freeze response to danger [35].

Fox Squirrel

The fox squirrel is the big backyard squirrel of the Hill Country, a roughly 21-inch, 1.52-pound tree squirrel with gray-and-black fur, an orange belly, and a cinnamon-and-black tail, and it is Texas' most common squirrel [36][37]. It ranges across nearly every Texas ecoregion except the far west [37].

What works: Fox squirrels are daytime animals, active from first light through early evening with a midday lull, and they do the oaks a favor by burying and forgetting acorns [36][37]. They are also a legal game animal with a generous season if you choose to hunt them [36].

What doesn't: A squirrel in the attic is usually a squirrel with a way in, not a demolition crew. Trim branches away from the roof, close gaps around eaves and vents, and have an animal-control professional handle eviction once young are mobile rather than sealing an animal inside [36][37].

Eastern Cottontail

The eastern cottontail, a 23-pound rabbit with a white cotton-ball tail, lives in nearly every brushy corner of the Hill Country and is the rabbit most people see in their yards [38][39].

What works: Cottontails stay near dense cover, so they like brushy edges, cedar thickets, and overgrown fence lines. A nest in the lawn is a shallow scrape lined with grass and fur, usually with the mother feeding nearby only at dawn and dusk; leave it alone and keep pets away [38][39].

What doesn't: Baby cottontails found alone in a nest are rarely orphans; the mother returns to feed them only a couple of times a day. Do not move or feed them, and do not mow over known nest sites during spring and summer, the main breeding months [38][39].

Small mammals at a glance

A compact reference for the six small mammals covered above: when you are most likely to see each one, its peak breeding period, and the yard note that matters most.

Lizards and Amphibians

The Texas spiny lizard is the Hill Country's signature backyard reptile, the one you see sunning on fence posts, tree trunks, and stone walls on warm days [43]. Adults run about 711 inches long, wear spiky, keeled scales in grays and browns, and males flash blue belly patches during display [43]. They are active in daylight, favor open woodlands and grasslands with plenty of warm basking spots, and eat insects, which makes them one of the most visible and one of the most harmless animals in this yearbook [43].

What works: Give a spiny lizard a perch and it pays rent in insect control. It climbs readily, so fence lines, trellises, and stacked stone are prime habitat, and leaving some rough wood and rock in place keeps it hunting beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects [43]. It needs no feeding, no water dish, and no help.

What doesn't: Broad-spectrum insecticide sprayed across fences and foundation plantings removes both the lizards and their food, so what you gain in the moment you pay for with more insects later. Spiny lizards are not aggressive; the blue flash on a fence is posturing between males, not a threat to people or pets [43].

Frogs and toads are the yard's night choir. In the Hill Country the species you are most likely to hear are the Gulf Coast toad, Woodhouse's toad, cricket frogs, and leopard frogs, with bullfrogs added wherever a pond or stock tank holds water [41]. Most call and breed in spring and early summer, and nothing sets them off like a warm rain: a dry spell runs quiet, and the first good soaker brings out a chorus [41][42].

What works: A few inches of standing water, even a seasonal pool, is all a leopard frog needs, and tadpoles do double duty by grazing algae. Frogs and toads eat large numbers of insects, and their presence is a sign of a healthy landscape [41][42].

What doesn't: Handling toads is not the answer to anything. Toads can release a mild defensive secretion when picked up; it is harmless to humans but can irritate eyes or a curious pet's mouth, so the very young should be taught to look, not touch [41]. Amphibians also absorb moisture through their skin, which makes them sensitive to the same pesticides sprayed for mosquitoes and ants; a yard that hosts frogs is usually a yard that skipped the spray [42].

Lizards and amphibians at a glance

A compact reference for the lizards and amphibians covered above: when you are most likely to see each one, its peak activity window, and the yard note that matters most.

Two other seasonal encounters worth knowing

Tarantulas

Tarantulas are genuine Hill Country natives: TPWD includes them among the region's common wildlife [17]. Most remain close to their burrows, but during mating season mature males leave their burrows in search of females and can become conspicuous in yards and along roads. Texas A&M notes that tarantula bites are not considered dangerous, although the defensive hairs they release can irritate skin and eyes [18].

What works: give them room and let them move on. An occasional wandering tarantula is normal Hill Country wildlife, not evidence of an infestation.

What doesn't: handling or provoking one simply because it looks intimidating.

Ticks and chiggers

For people spending time along wooded edges, brush, tall grass, and overgrown areas, some of the smallest Hill Country residents can matter more than the larger animals. Lone star ticks occur in Texas and favor wooded areas with underbrush, including areas near creeks, rivers, and animal resting places. Texas A&M reports peak adult and nymphal activity from March through May and again from July through August [19]. Chiggers are active from spring through fall in fields, tall grass, and weedy areas, but Texas A&M says they are particularly troublesome in early summer when vegetation is lush [20].

What works: wear appropriate clothing in brush, use an EPA-registered repellent according to its label, and check people and pets after time in likely tick habitat. Keeping frequently used lawn and walking areas mowed also reduces contact with chigger habitat [19][20][29].

Landscaping for fewer unwanted wildlife encounters

A Hill Country landscape does not need to be sterile to reduce unwanted encounters. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary shelter and easy routes into the house while still leaving room for native wildlife away from the structure.

Reduce harborage near the house: Keep firewood, lumber, loose boards, bricks, rock piles, heavy debris, and dense dead vegetation away from exterior walls. These sheltered spaces can provide daytime cover for scorpions and other animals [3][4].

Be deliberate with stonework: The crevices in loose rock piles and dry-stacked limestone walls can provide shelter for scorpions, snakes, and their prey. Where practical, avoid concentrating that type of habitat immediately beside doors, patios, pools, children's play areas, and other heavily used spaces [3][4][5].

Break the route to the roof: Trim shrubs and tree branches so they do not touch or overhang the structure. Striped bark scorpions are capable climbers, and Texas A&M specifically recommends pruning bushes and overhanging tree branches away from structures because branches can provide a route to the roof [23].

Seal the final gaps: Good weatherstripping, intact screens, sealed utility penetrations, and properly screened openings reduce the number of insects and other small creatures that can move from the landscape into the house [23].

How to read their year (a quick chart)

The chart below turns the table into a picture: the darker the square, the greater that creature's seasonal homeowner relevance that month. Spring and fall come through as the busy windows for the burrowing and biting crowd, while the deer light up during the fall rut.

What to do with the yearbook

The point of all this is that nothing surprises you. Print the at-a-glance table, tuck it in with the home maintenance calendar, and check in each season. When the calendar says spring, you know it is time for the fire ant broadcast step and a look for emerging snakes. When the leaves turn, you know the deer are on the move and to keep an eye on the dogs at dusk.

Alongside the maintenance calendar and the planting calendar, this site keeps a few other practical references for Hill Country living: the emergency and essential services directory for the who-do-I-call questions, and the backup power guide for generators, solar, and batteries when the grid drops in a winter storm. If you are weighing a move to the area and want the wildlife view in bigger strokes, the related read over on Move to Texas covers Texas wildlife from deer to scorpions for people considering the move.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to worry about scorpion stings?

Most Texas scorpion stings cause localized pain, burning, numbness or tingling, and sometimes swelling, but reactions vary by individual. Wash the area with soap and water and apply a cool compress or ice pack for discomfort. Monitor the person closely. If difficulty breathing, a widespread rash, persistent severe pain or swelling, or another significant reaction develops, seek medical attention; difficulty breathing or another severe reaction warrants 911. The Texas Poison Center Network can also provide case-specific guidance at 1-800-222-1222 [23][24]. The longer-term goal around the house is to reduce harborage and entry points so fewer scorpions get indoors.

What should I do if I see a venomous snake in my yard?

Most snakes want to avoid an encounter. Give the animal plenty of space rather than attempting to approach, capture, corner, or kill it, and it will usually move on. For the long term, keep grass mowed and clear brush and wood piles away from the house so there is less reason for it to linger near your foundation [5][6].

How do I tell termite swarmers from flying ants?

Look at the wings and the waist. Termites have four wings of equal length and a thick, straight waist. Flying ants have pinched waists and uneven pairs of wings. Termite swarmers found indoors are a reliable reason to have the structure professionally inspected. Swarmers found outdoors are different: they may have come from nearby soil, timber, brush, or another colony and do not by themselves establish that the house is infested [12][14].

Should I feed the deer that visit my yard?

No. TPWD warns that supplemental feeding can increase disease risk, deer-vehicle collisions, habituation to people, and changes in normal deer behavior. If deer are damaging landscaping, physical fencing and the use of less-preferred landscape plants are better-supported approaches than feeding them corn or hay [26].

I found a fawn by itself. Has its mother abandoned it?

Usually not. Does commonly leave young fawns hidden and alone for periods while they feed, then return. Unless a fawn is clearly injured, sick, trapped, or in immediate danger, the best approach is generally to leave it where it is and keep people and pets away. In Fair Oaks Ranch, residents who find injured or sick wildlife that appears unable to move can contact the city's non-emergency dispatch for guidance [16].

What do I do about coyotes near my house with pets?

Keep small pets inside or supervised at dawn and dusk, and do not leave pet food or water outside. Secure trash and compost so there is nothing attracting them. If a coyote is too bold and does not leave, haze it by yelling, waving your arms, and throwing rocks so it stays afraid of people. The goal is a coyote that stays wary, not one that has learned yards are safe [10].

Is it the armadillo or the mole wrecking my yard, and does it matter?

It matters, because the animals cause different kinds of damage and require different approaches. Armadillos typically leave shallow feeding holes or disturbed beds, while moles create raised surface tunnels and pocket gophers leave characteristic fan- or horseshoe-shaped soil mounds. For armadillos, habitat modification, properly designed exclusion, or trapping may be appropriate. For moles and pocket gophers, identify the animal first and then use the trapping technique appropriate to that species [7][11][15].

Is that raccoon in my yard during the day rabid?

Not necessarily. Raccoons forage in daylight, especially in spring when females are feeding young. Call animal control only if it is wobbly, unafraid, or acting strangely [34].

I found baby rabbits in a nest in my yard. What do I do?

Leave them. The mother feeds them only a couple of times a day and stays away the rest of the time so predators cannot find the nest. Keep pets away and do not mow the area until the young have left [38][39].

Will an opossum hurt my pets?

Almost never. Opossums are not aggressive and would rather play dead than fight. Keep pets from cornering one and it will move on [35].

Are Texas spiny lizards dangerous?

No. They are harmless to people and pets and eat insects, so they are welcome on fences and tree trunks. They may flash a blue belly patch when displaying, but that is posturing between lizards, not aggression toward you [43].

Why do frogs get so loud after a rain?

Warm rains trigger breeding choruses. Most of the Hill Country's frogs and toads call and breed in spring and early summer, and a good soaker tells them conditions are right, so the night chorus is louder after rain [41][42].

I found a toad in my yard. Should I get rid of it?

No. Toads are insect control and a sign of a healthy yard. Do not handle them: they can release a mild defensive secretion that irritates eyes or a curious pet's mouth [41]. Keep pets from mouthing toads and leave the toad alone.

Sources

1. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Spring is the time for Texans to 'two-step' toward fire ant control," March 2024  agrilifetoday.tamu.edu
2. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Don't let fire ants ruin your summer, take steps this spring," April 2018  agrilifetoday.tamu.edu
3. Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, "Texas Scorpions: Fearsome, Fascinating, Fluorescent"  tpwmagazine.com
4. Texas A&M AgriLife, Field Guide to Common Texas Insects, "Striped Bark Scorpion"  texasinsects.tamu.edu
5. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Snake FAQ"  tpwd.texas.gov
6. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Venomous Texas Snakes"  tpwd.texas.gov
7. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Managing Armadillo Damage"  mytexas.ag.tamu.edu
8. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "White-tailed Deer"  tpwd.texas.gov
9. Texas A&M AgriLife, Wildlife and Fisheries, "Deer of Texas"  wildlife.tamu.edu
10. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Urban Coyotes"  tpwd.texas.gov
11. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Controlling Pocket Gopher Damage"  agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
12. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Insects in the City, "Frequently Asked Questions About Subterranean Termite Control"  citybugs.tamu.edu
13. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "The Rut in White-tailed Deer"  tpwd.texas.gov
14. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Drywood Termites"  agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
15. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Managing Mole Damage"  agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
16. City of Fair Oaks Ranch, "Deer & Wildlife Education"  fairoaksranchtx.org
17. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Hill Country" (Common Wildlife)  tpwd.texas.gov
18. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Spiders"  agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
19. Texas A&M AgriLife, Field Guide to Common Texas Insects, "Lone Star Tick"  texasinsects.tamu.edu
20. Texas A&M AgriLife, Field Guide to Common Texas Insects, "Chiggers"  texasinsects.tamu.edu
21. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project, "Two-Step Method"  fireant.tamu.edu
22. Texas Department of State Health Services, "Snake"  dshs.texas.gov
23. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Scorpions"  agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
24. Texas Poison Center Network, "Venomous Critters"  poisoncontrol.org
25. Texas Department of Transportation, "Deer in headlights," October 31, 2024  txdot.gov
26. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Eye on Nature, "Urban White-Tailed Deer"  tpwd.texas.gov
27. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Junior Naturalists, "Coyote"  tpwd.texas.gov
28. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Coyote (Canis latrans)"  tpwd.texas.gov
29. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively"  epa.gov
30. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)"  tpwd.texas.gov
31. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Skunks" (Introducing Mammals)  tpwd.texas.gov
32. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, "Texas Skunks: The Big Stink"  tpwmagazine.com
33. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, "Wild Thing: A 'Tail' of Two Foxes"  tpwmagazine.com
34. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor)"  tpwd.texas.gov
35. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)"  tpwd.texas.gov
36. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)"  tpwd.texas.gov
37. Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, "Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) Ecology and Management" (RWFM-PU-426, April 2025)  nri.tamu.edu
38. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Rabbits and Hares"  tpwd.texas.gov
39. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, "Wild Thing: Eastern Cottontails Off in a Flash"  tpwmagazine.com
40. Texas Tech University Natural Science Research Laboratory, Mammals of Texas Online Edition, "Common Gray Fox"  depts.ttu.edu
41. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "A Guide to Common Frogs Across Texas"  tpwd.texas.gov
42. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Herps of Texas: References for Amphibian Identification"  tpwd.texas.gov
43. Williamson County, Texas, "Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus)"  wilcotx.gov

The monthly ratings are an editorial synthesis of the cited wildlife, Extension, public-health, and government guidance rather than agency-issued activity scores. They are intended as a practical homeowner calendar; exact timing varies with temperature, rainfall, elevation, habitat, and individual property conditions.

Last verified: September 1, 2026