UC Rangelands

New World Screwworm Has Reached Texas—What Does this Mean for Livestock, Wildlife, and Veterinary Care?

Join the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with the High Plains Veterinary Medical Association, for a discussion on the recent emergence of New World Screwworm in Texas.

This panel will focus on treatment, management, and response strategies across all species, providing valuable information for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, livestock producers, and ag professionals.

NWS has not been detected in California, but now is a good time to learn about the threat and how to recognize and respond to it.

Webinar Information -
📅 Date: July 2
⏰ Panel Discussion: 4:00–5:30 PM PDT
💻 Webinar registration: https://texastech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yD5MflYbRpe1H4nAqYkIjg?fm=wc&_x_zm_rtaid=7SwL5xKbSiGdAsguYxBbUA.1782176841869.0ede17fccfe84966281ec652c6411157&_x_zm_rhtaid=89

📷🐾 Wildlife monitoring equipment is up and running!

As part of a new grazing experiment, we’ve installed drift fences and camera traps to help us learn more about the wildlife that uses the area before grazing begins.

Drift fences gently guide animals along a fence line, and then the camera traps will capture photos as they pass by. Together, these tools allow us to document wildlife activity with minimal disturbance.

These surveys will help establish baseline information on wildlife use of the site, giving us a better understanding of existing conditions before we begin testing adaptive grazing strategies. Over time, we’ll compare these observations with future monitoring data to better understand how grazing management may influence wildlife and their habitat.

Now we wait to see who shows up on camera! 🐿️🐸🦎📸

Our crew has been out collecting data for a new project this spring—and we love getting out to “touch grass.” 🌾🌾

Just remember... sometimes it touches back. Watch your step out there 🐍


Image description: Photo 1 - A coiled rattlesnake rests partially hidden in tall green grass, with its head raised; Photo 2 - UC Rangeland researcher, wearing snake chaps, stands on a hillside holding up a long snakeskin shed, with oak trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic loss of Lincoln Sabini. Lincoln had recently started working with UC Rangelands as an undergraduate research assistant. An Agricultural Sustainability and Food Systems major, he was eager to engage in grazing systems research and had just enrolled in his very first sheep management lab at UC Davis.

Lincoln was a thoughtful, enthusiastic student and a genuinely kind person—the kind of student we are always grateful to welcome into this field. He was a bright, rising star lost far too soon.

Our thoughts are with Lincoln’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone whose lives he touched.

Read the tribute from Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis at the link below.

Remembering Lincoln Sabini: “A Golden Spark” Lincoln Sabini was a second-year student in the UC Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, and also took courses in the Department of Plant Sciences. Those who knew him recount some memories.

California livestock producers — your feedback can help guide future support for working lands and livestock operations across the state.

UC Berkeley and UC Cooperative Extension are seeking input on the future of wolf-livestock compensation programs in California, and they want to hear directly from producers and other interested parties who live in California.

Survey responses will be:
✔️ Anonymous
✔️ Securely stored through UC
✔️ Shared only as combined group results
✔️ About 20 minutes to complete

📅 Survey closes June 11

Take the survey on CDFW’s wolf-livestock compensation program here: https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8qemY1a3p1rv5BQ

From the California-Nevada Drought Update, National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) - A Warm, Dry March Led to Snow Melt and Drought Expansion. Heat and Fire Potential Are Concerns for Summer.

Key Points:
💧 Abnormally Dry (D0) and drought conditions have returned to California and expanded and intensified in Nevada, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. California’s drought-free period earlier in the water year was short lived. Currently, 65% of California is Abnormally Dry (D0) and nearly 77% of Nevada is in drought (D1-D4).

☀️ A dry and warm March, with record-breaking heat, led to rapid and early snowmelt across California and Nevada.

❄️ In early April, 98-100% of SNOTEL stations were in a snow drought (defined as snow water equivalent below the 20th percentile). April 1 statewide snow water equivalent was the lowest on record (going back to 1981) for Nevada, and the second lowest on record for California.

⛈️ Recent storms and future forecasted storms through the end of April into early May have and may continue to buffer further drought degradation in some areas.

🔥 As the region enters its climatological dry season, seasonal forecasts favor warmer-than-normal conditions for May–July. Above-normal significant wildland fire potential is forecast in northern California and eastern Nevada in June–July.

Read more from the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) at the link below...

Drought Status Update for California-Nevada | April 27, 2026 | Drought.gov NIDIS and its partners will issue future drought status updates as conditions evolve.

UC Rangelands is at the 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference this week! 🌎🐛

PhD student Ava-Rose Beech is presenting her research on how fire and grazing can shape soil ecosystems in California rangelands 🌱🐂🔥



Image description: Ava-Rose stands smiling in front of her poster at the Global Soil Biodiversity Conference poster session.