LUBBOCK, Texas — A working group committee of representatives from ranching and farming organizations, environmental groups, state and federal biologists, private landowners and others has completed a Texas plan to conserve the black-tailed prairie dog and its grassland habitat. The species is currently a candidate for possible listing as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
Information from Texas Parks and Wildlife is available on radio and television, as well as the newsstand.
AUSTIN, Texas — Rene R. Barrientos took an old, worn out 8,000-acre ranch along the Nueces River in LaSalle County that was suffering from overgrazing and extensive farming and in less than 10 years converted it into a conservation showplace. For his efforts on the La Golondrina Ranch, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department named Barrientos the state’s top Lone Star Land Steward for 2004.
AUSTIN, Texas — "Boundaries don’t protect rivers, people do." These words by the great philosopher Aristotle are more important today than they have ever been before, as Gov. Rick Perry’s recent proclamation declaring June as Rivers Month in Texas states.
AUSTIN, Texas — One-third of the sites in the Texas state parks system will offer public hunting opportunities for the 2004-05 hunting season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its May 27 public meeting approved the 44 sites.
AUSTIN, Texas — For the first time since 1985 for most wildlife species, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is proposing increasing civil restitution values that violators are assessed when they illegally kill wildlife.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is proposing a new program under which managers of private ponds and lakes would be issued permits to control the double-crested cormorant, a fish-eating bird that some anglers and landowners consider a nuisance.
AUSTIN, Texas — At the May 27 Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting, the Texas "State Boating Law Enforcement Officer of The Year" award was given to TPWD Game Warden Bill Blackburn of Llano County.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved giving $500,000 in matching fund assistance for boat ramp construction to the City of Corpus Christi.