Missing the chachalaca

It still feels strange for Ken Merritt to wake up and not go to work at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge every morning.

Merritt, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project leader who oversaw the Rio Grande Valley’s three national wildlife refuges since 1996, retired Jan. 3. He worked for the service for a total of 31 years.

“It’s hard not going to work every (day) … and (seeing) a kiskadee over my head or a chachalaca walking out in front of me,” Merritt said.

While working for Fish and Wildlife in South Texas, Merritt was instrumental in acquiring and restoring thousands of acres the service bought for the refuge system and developing conservation programs to protect endangered plants and animals.

“It’s still a work in progress,” he said.

Recently, Merritt and staff at the refuges worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is interested in building a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico. Tentative plans call for much of the fence to be built along property Fish and Wildlife owns.

The department has not officially requested to build the fence on the service’s property, but it has conducted surveys of the property.

“Nobody ever thought we’d have DHS approach us to put in a border fence,” he said.

But the 55-year-old said the border fence issue was not his reason for retiring so young.

“I just had the opportunity,” Merritt said.

His retirement does not mean the end of his involvement in conservation projects, however. Merritt said he would like to help with inter-agency fire programs out west, get into personal training and, of course, continue working on conservation projects.

Those who worked alongside Merritt describe him as a cool-headed team player who was responsible for starting partnerships with conservation organizations, cities and anyone else interested in preserving the area’s wildlife.

Under Merritt’s leadership, the refuges’ volunteer programs grew. Santa Ana alone has more than 100 volunteers each winter, said Keith Hackland, newly elected president of the Friends of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, an independent, nonprofit organization that raises money for projects to improve the Santa Ana and Lower Rio Grande Valley national wildlife refuges.

Other projects Merritt was responsible for include building a 43-foot tower that allows Santa Ana visitors to have a bird’s-eye view of the refuge and spot hawks and raptors overhead. He also was instrumental in developing the Roma Bluffs World Birding Center and educational programs at the refuges.

Nancy Millar, vice president of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and director of its Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Merritt’s retirement is a great loss to the Valley.

“He was such a wonderful asset for the Valley and the Fish and Wildlife Service. I hate to see him go,” she said.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.