Member Moments

I knew that the DSC Texas Panhandle Chapter donated to various causes and conservation groups, but I had never participated in an actual conservation project. So, the first time Brandon came to me and said he wanted us to spend our Spring Break doing a work project in the remote areas of West Texas with the Texas Bighorn Society, my thoughts were… “You want us to do what? During Spring Break?” This is the time to go to the beach or take a fun trip. Let’s go to the River Walk or maybe camping—literally anything but work.

 

You may not know my husband but, those who do, know he is a master negotiator of sorts. He also knows how to play into my biggest weakness—our child. If he can get her convinced, then Mama will break shortly after. He had her at “helicopter ride”. Way to stand strong, Emma.

 

So here we go—all the way to Van Horn, Texas—to meet up with people I had never met and take part in a sun-up-to-late-afternoon project in the remote mountains bordering Mexico. Did I mention we are on Spring Break? I had no idea what to expect from this day—other than a helicopter ride, of course.

 

The project went off without a hitch, from the early morning breakfast—reminiscent of those mornings before working cattle with friends back in the day—to the scenic helicopter ride to the top of the mountain. From the day-long, hard work that leaves you feeling satisfied and fulfilled, to the lifelong friendships forged through putting in a good day’s work toward a common goal.

 

Once the project was over, the festivities wrapped up, and we started our trek back home, the conversation turned to whether we would do the project again if given the opportunity. Emma, despite all her bumps and scrapes, answered with a resounding “YES!” Well, I guess that settles it…

 

The following year, our endeavors led us to Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso. This time, our charge was to build two guzzlers in a mountain range that did not have any bighorn sheep… yet. This project was a little different, as it was in preparation for a translocation effort that would take place later in the year. FMSP is unique in that it currently has zero aoudad —you can call them the arch-nemesis of bighorn. Aoudad carry Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae—also known as Movi, which infects bighorn sheep and has decimated their numbers.

 

The translocation effort took place in December 2024 at Elephant Mountain WMA. Unfortunately, Emma and I were not able to go, but Brandon went in our stead. Us girls waited with bated breath for every update he could provide. I remember the emotion we felt when he sent word that all 77 of the captured bighorn came back clean of Movi and were cleared for translocation. Then came the videos of the release—absolutely incredible. The joy, tears, and raw emotion shared among those who have made this their life’s work was astonishing.

 

With all that has come from our partnership with the Texas Bighorn Society, here are a few things I did not expect:

 

I did not expect to meet some of the most amazing people—who love us, especially our Emma—starting with Dr. Sam Cunningham and his darling wife, Tracy.

I did not expect to love putting my blood and sweat into a project for an elusive animal that has no idea I exist.

I did not expect to grow such a love for this animal, despite it having no idea I exist.

What I really did not expect was to enjoy this project so much that, like Emma, I now say:

 

“Why would we ever do anything different for Spring Break?”

 

Leslyn Boyles