Texas has officially legalized hunting aoudads from helicopters, a significant step aimed at controlling the invasive sheep population that threatens local ecosystems. Senate Bill 1245, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in May, expands an existing aerial wildlife management permit system previously limited to feral hogs and coyotes, allowing hunters to target aoudads starting September 1.
The decision follows the alarming increase in aoudad numbers, which have surged from just 31 animals introduced in the late 1950s to over 30,000 today. This species poses a threat not only by consuming vital resources in fragile desert ecosystems but also by spreading diseases among commercial livestock. With natural predators insufficient to manage their population, Texas ranchers and wildlife officials support aerial hunting as a necessary measure for ecological balance.
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