As Texas braces for another Arctic blast, that will possibly put up to five inches of snow along the Interstate 10 corridor in Southeast Texas, it’s important to recognize the catastrophic toll that past freezes have taken on the state’s wildlife.
During the 2021 freeze, the devastation was staggering: millions of fish perished, including massive numbers of spotted seatrout along the Texas coast.
The popular species that is hugely important to the sportfishing industry, suffered widespread mortality as frigid temperatures plummeted water temperatures below their survival threshold.
A Historic Reminder: Lessons from the 2021 Freeze
The February 2021 freeze demonstrated the fragility of Texas’s diverse wildlife when exposed to prolonged, extreme cold. Over 3.8 million fish, spanning 60 species, were lost along the coast. Among them, speckled trout-aka spotted seatrout—the most popular sportfish on the Gulf Coast.
Tarpon were also impacted as many juveniles were found floating in places like Port O’Connor and Rockport.
Other Wildlife at Risk
Exotic species such as nilgai antelope, blackbuck, and axis deer—common on Texas ranches—were particularly vulnerable due to their low tolerance for temperatures like those being forecasted. Large numbers perished in South Texas, leaving a serious impact on local ecosystems.
I’m hoping this isn’t going to be as bad as 2021. The Texas Coast in particular doesn’t need another hit like that.
Chester Moore
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