May 6, 2020

Texas State Parks to Allow Limited Overnight Camping Starting May 18

AUSTIN— As part of a broader effort to reopen Texas, Texas State Parks will resume limited overnight camping beginning May 18. This gradual reopening of overnight reservations will be limited at all Texas State Parks to varying degrees depending on individual park occupancy in order to align with safe business practices currently followed in Texas. Some existing reservations will be honored, but to prevent overcrowding, manage continued social distancing and safeguard public health, no new reservations can be made for now. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will notify the public once new reservations can be booked.

April 29, 2020

Texas CWD Testing Shows Scale of Effort to Contain Deadly Deer Disease

The latest numbers on Chronic Wasting Disease testing in Texas give some hope that efforts to contain the disease are working, according to state wildlife experts. The CWD testing year that ended in February produced just shy of 13,000 CWD samples statewide by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the help of participating landowners and hunters. This number includes all samples collected in Texas CWD Zones and far exceeds the target of 7,039 samples.

April 22, 2020

City Nature Challenge Launches Friday; Public Encouraged to Record Nature Near Their Homes

AUSTIN – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) through the Texas Nature Trackers program is inviting Texans to participate in the fifth annual City Nature Challenge, Friday, April 24 through Monday, April 27. This global community-based scientific effort, co-organized by San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, invites current and aspiring citizen scientists of all ages and backgrounds to observe and submit pictures of wild plants, animals and fungi using the free mobile app iNaturalist.

April 21, 2020

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Confirmed in Texas, Die-Offs Reported

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has received test results confirming that Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) was diagnosed in a wild black-tailed jackrabbit in Lubbock County and a wild cottontail rabbit in Hudspeth County. This marks the first confirmed cases of RHD in wild rabbits in Texas and follows the discovery of the disease in domestic rabbits in Hockley County, which was announced in a recent Texas Animal Health Commission news release.

April 20, 2020

Texas State Parks Reopen for Day-Use

AUSTIN—Texas State Parks will begin reopening for day-use only April 20 as part of a broader effort to begin reopening the state of Texas.  Per Governor Abbott’s direction, new restrictions in effect include requiring visitors to wear face coverings and maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.

April 14, 2020

Don’t Touch the Wildlife. Seriously.

AUSTIN- With more people enjoying the outdoors and working from home this April, you may start to notice more wildlife in your backyard, neighborhood or surrounding area. Species including birds, deer and snakes are active this time of year and their young often stray or appear to be abandoned. But wildlife experts caution against lending a helping hand.

April 9, 2020

Game Warden Field Notes, April 9, 2020

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

April 7, 2020

Texas State Parks Temporarily Close to the Public

AUSTIN—At the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas State Parks will be closed to the public effective at the close of business Tuesday, April 7 in order to maintain the safest environment for visitors, volunteers and staff. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will continue to stay current with the latest public health recommendations and will announce when a definite reopening date has been determined.

April 6, 2020

TPWD CO-OP Awards More Than $820,000 in Grants to Texas Communities

AUSTIN – Texas families will have an opportunity to experience the outdoors thanks to $822,444 in 20 grants awarded this year through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP). These grants support community-based conservation and outdoor recreation programs and activities such as archery, fishing, camping, hiking, kayaking, nature education and more.

April 3, 2020

Texas Outdoor Family Program Hosts Virtual Ranger Programs Throughout April Leading up to Family Camp-In May 2

AUSTIN— The Texas Outdoor Family (TOF) program is leading the #TexasOutdoorFamilyCampIn, a month long online initiative encouraging families to learn outdoor skills together. This series, taking place through April, will culminate in a backyard or indoor camp-in throughout the state on Saturday, May 2.