Construction on the Border Fence is Going in the Southmost Preserve

Reported by: Manuel De La Rosa
Last Update: 12:09 am

BROWNSVILLE - The Southmost Preserve sits on about 1000 acres of lush land in Brownsville.

It's home to hundreds of Sabal Palm Trees and is one of only two protected forests in Texas.

The border fence is being built right through part of it.

Preserve manager Maxwell Pons worries the fence is jeopardizing the wildlife.

Large openings in the fence right now are helping animals come back and forth, but those openings will be closed.

"What I have seen and I don't get much opportunity to walk and look at it, there are tracks coming from it. I have seen coyotes move through these holes," says Pons.

Another concern for Pons is the preserves brushline.

About 300 Sabal Palms had to be moved to build the fence.

More than half were replanted on the preserve. The removal of the trees has impacted some of the birds and other habitat.

Pons says they didn't have a choice with the border fence and have adapted. The same can't be said for the animals who call the preserve home.

http://www.krgv.com/content/news/story/ ... -DUxw.cspx