Thanks to You… As December 31stapproaches we can look back over the past year’s accomplishments with much pride. With your help the Friends of Friedrich Wilderness Park have seen the completion of the new trail entry and kiosk for which we donated $50,000.

Dedicated on October 27, 2012

We’ve also received a Texas Parks and Wildlife grant of $76,700 to add trails in the Woodland Hills additions to FWP. The Friends made a $12,000 contribution. At this point the layout of the trails is complete and archaeological surveys will begin soon. Construction is estimated to begin after the golden-cheek warblers have left sometime in July

Additionally we supported a $10,000 grant toward the fencing of the very rare Bracted Twist-flower [Strepthanthusbrecteatus].

Our natural area contains the only two colonies of this rare plant known in Bexar County.

You can find more information about the plant at The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

As TweetyBird might say,

I dhought I saw a puddy cat . . . .

and indeed he might! Mountain lions in the Texas hill country are nothing out of the ordinary. The mountain lion (Puma concolor), also known as cougar, puma and panther, hasbeen part of the Texas fauna for thousands of years. Lions were once common throughout Texas, but since increased settlement, they have mostly been confined to isolated and rugged areas of the state. Lions now appear to be moving back into historic habitats where they have not been documented for well over a hundred years

  • Lions are most active mornings and evenings as well as at night. They are solitary, secretive creatures.
  • Whenever and wherever available, deer are the choice prey for mountain lions. They will also prey on javelinas,porcupine, skunks,and other small game.
  • A mature lion will establish a home range of approximately 100 sq. miles, through which it wanders over the course of weeks.
  • They are seldom seen in their native haunts and rarely interact with humans.

If you are lucky enough to see one or to see evidence of one, let the people at

Texas Parks and Wildlife (210) 688-6444 know.

Excerpted from: Guide to Texas Mountain Lions – Billy Pat McKinney, KENS 5 TV Nov. 10, 2011, and Mammals of Texas Online Edition

If you missed MISTLETOE at Christmas,

how about for Valentine’s Day?

No one knows for sure the origin of the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. However, it may have stemmed from either the Viking association of the plant with Frigga (the goddess of love) or from the ancient belief that mistletoe was related to fertility. There’s still mistletoe hanging from the trees,so you might think about it or Valentine’s Day.

The word mistletoe may be related to GermanMist, for dung and Tang for branch, since mistletoe can be spread in the droppings of birds moving from tree to tree. A sticky substance on the seeds allows them to adhere to the twig and begin growing. You’re most likely to find mistletoe on hardwood trees such as oak and mesquite. Its parasitic roots invade a tree's bark, allowing mistletoe to absorb the tree's nutrients. Sometimes, mistletoe can harm a tree and cause deformities, but usually it doesn't kill its host. Once established, mistletoe produces its own food via photosynthesis.

Correct mistletoe etiquettecalls for the man to remove one berry when he kisses a woman. When all the berries are gone, there's no more kissing permitted underneath that plant. One legend states that a couple who kisses underneath mistletoe will have good luck, but a couple neglecting to perform the ritual will have bad luck. So even though we associate mistletoe with Christmas why not try a little on Valentine’s Day?

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AND LAST BUT DEFINETELY NOT LEASTJanuary is membership renewal time. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s because of caring people like you that FOFWP is able to support the wonderful educational programs provided by Peggy Spring and to assist wildlife biologists Jayne Neal and Wendy Leonard with their projects. As people become less involved with the land, they become less connected to nature. Consequently it becomeseasiertoignore our responsibilitieswhen it comes to supporting and protecting our beautiful natural areas. Please do your part and care for nature by renewing your membership.

You can renew on line at or mail in the form below.

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Name______

Address______

E-Mail Address ______Phone ______

_____ Adult $25 _____ Senior $15 _____ Family $30 _____ Contributing $50

Mail to: FOFWP, 21395 Milsa Dr., San Antonio, TX 78256

If you are interested in any type of volunteer work with FOFWP [education, clearing invasive vegetation, working with the wildlife biologists, serving on the Board] please send me at note at

Denise Schneider