Bamberger Ranch Preserve

Ecological restoration and conservation project in Texas

Bamberger Ranch, also called Selah, is an ecological restoration and conservation project near Johnson City, in Blanco County, Texas in the Texas Hill Country.

## History

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The preserve was created in 1969 by restaurant chain executive J. David Bamberger.[1]

Bamberger specifically sought out a worn-out ranch with poor economic prospects and when he found Selah, “The ranch was mostly bare ground or infested with cedar (Juniperus ashei). There was no grass and absolutely no live creeks, springs, or ponds.”[1]

After removing the "cedar" and planting native grasses, rainwater infiltration improved and the aquifer underlying the property refilled. The site now has several running springs that did not exist when Bamberger bought the place.

Bird biodiversity on the land has increased from around 50 species to over 220 species.[2]

The ranch also works to promulgate endangered species. It has a herd of scimitar-horned oryx (native to Africa), and Bamberger also markets the Texas snowbell tree to other ranchers.[3]

## Bat cave

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The 5,500 acres (22 km2) site has its own human-built bat cave, completed in 1998 and called the Chiroptorium. The Chiroptorium is now home to a colony of 200,000 Mexican free-tailed bats.[4]

## References

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1. ^ a b Sansom, Andrew (May 19, 2019). "One Man's Half-Century Project to Heal a Hill Country Landscape Created a Legacy Reaching Far Beyond His Fenceline". Texas Highways. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
2. ^ "Our Story". Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. Archived from the original on 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
3. ^ "Texas Rancher An Unlikely Environmentalist". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
4. ^ "Bamberger Ranch Preserve - Bat-Watching Sites of Texas". tpwd.texas.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2022-06-15.

## External links

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* 50 Years Ago, This Was a Wasteland. He Changed Everything | Short Film Showcase on YouTube

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