The Diffusion of Exotic-animal Ranching in Texas
Keywords:
exotic-animal ranching, diffusion, TexasAbstract
Since their first major introduction into Texas in the 1920s, exotic animals have become a major rural economic activity in the state. From early ranches in Kenedy and Kerr counties, foreign herds have diffused to selected areas of the state in a somewhat regular geographical pattern. Mapping data from six separate surveys of Texas Parks and Wildlife, we detected that early adoption of this innovation tended to be "hierarchical," while adoption since the 1950s has appeared to be "contagious" with a filling-in effect, especially in Kerr County. Reasons for and implications of this particular spread pattern are discussed. In particular, we evaluate the economic ramifications for Texas ranchers and conservation issues, given that fully one-third of the exotic animals in Texas is now free-ranging.References
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