Conservation Status and What It Means for Landowners
State Status: Threatened
The Texas horned lizard is listed as state threatened in Texas. Although it has no federal listing, it is a species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) and is protected under state law, meaning it cannot be collected, possessed, or harmed without a permit. For wildlife management plans, it is an excellent target species because managing for it also benefits native grassland ecosystems and native ant communities.
Habitat Requirements
The Texas horned lizard inhabits open, arid, and semi-arid landscapes with loose, sandy, or loamy soils and sparse vegetation. It requires abundant populations of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.), which compose roughly 70 percent of its diet. The species thrives in native grasslands, mesquite savannas, and open brushland where bare ground is interspersed with low vegetation. It avoids areas with dense grass cover, heavy brush, or compacted soils. The lizard relies on its cryptic coloration and the ability to partially bury itself in loose soil for thermoregulation and predator avoidance.
Wildlife Management Plan Implications
Managing for the Texas horned lizard in your wildlife plan means prioritizing harvester ant habitat and reducing conditions that favor red imported fire ants. Fire ants have displaced harvester ant colonies across much of the lizard's range, making fire ant management a central practice. Your plan should document soil types suitable for harvester ants, map areas of known horned lizard activity, and commit to reducing fire ant populations through targeted bait application. Maintaining open grassland structure through prescribed fire and avoiding overgrazing that compacts soil are also critical components.
Texas Ecoregions
- Edwards Plateau
- South Texas Brush Country
- Cross Timbers and Prairies
- Rolling Plains
- Trans-Pecos
- High Plains
- Post Oak Savannah
- Gulf Prairies and Marshes
- Blackland Prairie
Texas County Distribution
246
of 254 Texas counties with documented occurrences
97% of Texas counties
Recommended Management Practices
These practices from the 7 pillars of wildlife management are most relevant to Texas horned lizard conservation.
Predator Management
Fire ant control using broadcast bait and targeted mound treatment
Habitat Control
Maintain open grassland with bare ground patches and loose sandy soils
Census
Walk transect surveys during warm months (May through September) in morning hours
Habitat Control
Prescribed fire to maintain grass and forb diversity and reduce brush encroachment
Supplemental Food
Protect harvester ant colonies by avoiding herbicide application near mounds
Include Texas horned lizard in Your Wildlife Management Plan
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Start Your Wildlife Management PlanFrequently Asked Questions
Why are fire ants the biggest threat to Texas horned lizards?
Red imported fire ants outcompete and displace the native harvester ants that horned lizards depend on for food. Fire ants also prey directly on horned lizard eggs and hatchlings. Studies have shown that horned lizard populations decline sharply in areas where fire ants become dominant. Managing fire ant populations through bait application is one of the most impactful practices a landowner can implement for this species.
Can horned lizards recover on my property if I manage for them?
Yes, but recovery takes time. Reducing fire ant populations allows harvester ant colonies to reestablish, which in turn supports horned lizard populations. Landowners in central and west Texas have documented horned lizard returns within 3 to 5 years of sustained fire ant management combined with native grassland restoration. Maintaining open habitat with loose soils and diverse native grasses creates the conditions these lizards need.