June 26, 2020

Game Warden Field Notes, June 26, 2020

AUSTIN — The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement reports.

June 25, 2020

Chinati Mountains State Natural Area Joins Big Bend Ranch State Parks’ Dark Sky Park Designation

TERLINGUA— Chinati Mountains State Natural Area, located 25 miles north of Presidio, is now included into Big Bend Ranch State Parks’ 2017 International Dark Sky Park designation with the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). The inclusion of Chinati Mountains SNA, which is not currently open to the public, adds about 40,000 acres to what is already one of the largest areas of protected night sky in the United States.

Stay Safe This Summer at a Texas State Park by Using These Six Heat Hacks

AUSTIN— Last year, as temperatures soared into the triple digits in Texas, 48 Texas State Parks handled 129 heat-related illnesses in humans and pets. Now that the summer has officially begun and temperatures are steadily climbing, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is sharing their top six heat hacks for staying safe in the outdoors.

Abilene State Park Pool to Open July 1 Until Aug. 16

ABILENE— The Abilene State Park pool will be reopening to the public Tuesday through Sunday starting July 1 until Aug. 16. New guidelines will be in place this summer to encourage social distancing and give park staff time to disinfect the pool area.

June 24, 2020

Increased Black Bear Activity Observed in Trans-Pecos Region

AUSTIN— Once considered to be extinct in Texas, black bears have steadily recolonized the Big Bend region and other areas of west and southwest Texas since the last decade of the twentieth century. The natural restoration of populations in west Texas has recently resulted in bears being spotted in more populated areas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists say the dry spring weather conditions have left bears on the move in search in food leading to an increase in sightings in the area.

June 18, 2020

Statewide Dove Banding Underway to Monitor Populations

AUSTIN — From June to August each year, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff place leg bands on thousands of mourning and white-winged doves to monitor the factors that influence populations. Information from hunter-reported bands, or “recoveries”, provide estimates of harvest and survival rates, which are used with data from the Harvest Information Program, Parts Collection Survey and other harvest surveys to help manage populations and set annual hunting regulations.

June 17, 2020

Applications Being Accepted for This Year’s Bird City Texas Program

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Audubon Texas are now accepting applications for the Bird City Texas Program’s (BCT) community certification. Communities selected each year must meet certain criteria showing how their city is working to protect birds and their habitat.

June 16, 2020

Giant Salvinia Discovered on Bringle Lake

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) confirmed the presence of giant salvinia on Bringle Lake in Texarkana after being alerted to a potential infestation of the invasive species.

June 15, 2020

Balmorhea State Park Grows Through 643-Acre Land Acquisition

AUSTIN—Balmorhea State Park is gaining some elbow room after a 643-acre land acquisition was recently completed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This acquisition, which was seven years in the making, will increase the size of the 108-acre park seven-fold to a total of 751-acres and increase future opportunities for nature trails, nature watching and scenic overlooks.

June 11, 2020

TPWD Announces Funding Opportunity for Streamside Landowners

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is looking to expand public access to fishing and paddling on Texas rivers through leased access agreements with streamside landowners. Private streamside properties are essential to achieving this goal, and TPWD is requesting applications from landowners for the River Access and Conservation Areas program.