The Petersen Ranch Central Texas Hill Country About us

The Petersen Ranch has been operated as a private nature preserve since 1999. Since its inception, the Petersen Ranch has actively enhanced, restored or preserved the habitat to the benefit of all native species. The habitat management programs, in use on the ranch, have been designed with the assistance of biologists and scientists from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Environmental Defense(ED), The Nature Conservancy of Texas, the University of Illinois and private consulting firms. Tools such as deferred grazing of domestic livestock, prescribed burning, brush manipulation, census counts and population control of white-tailed deer and brown headed cowbirds have yielded tremendous results.

In partnership with ED, the ranch applied for and recieved a Safe Harbor Agreement from the USFWS and has dedicated over 200 acres to the recovery of the federally endangered Black-capped Vireo songbird.

To date, 135 different species of birds, 21 species of mammals, 58 species of trees and shrubs, and 29 species of reptiles and amphibians have been documented on the ranch. Numerous species of native wildflowers, cactus, ferns and grasses can also be seen throughout the ranch.

David Wolfe, Senior Scientist with ED has the following to say about the ranch:

"I have visited many Hill Country ranches over the past decade and Petersen Ranch stands out in my mind as having an exceptional diversity of intact native habitats. Woody plant diversity is especially high and the condition of native grasslands is excellent. These qualities are reflected in the abundance and diversity of birds and other animal life on the ranch."

David Wolfe
Senior Scientist
Environmental Defense

All of our outdoor activities are designed to be sustainable and and are integrated into our overall management objectives. By visiting Petersen Ranch, not only will you experience the beauty of the Central Texas Hill Country but your business will help us continue our conservation efforts into the future.