AUSTIN— Get in the holiday spirit by celebrating at a Texas State Park. Throughout the month of December, 42 state parks around Texas are hosting more than 60 holiday events including light displays, taffy pulls, a balloon glow and geocaching.
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
TERLINGUA – Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) is the latest Texas State Park to be designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Joining neighboring Big Bend National Park, they form one of the largest contiguous areas under dark-skies protection in the United States.
AUSTIN – With hundreds of thousands of catchable-size rainbow trout coming to 150 public water bodies across the state this winter, Texas anglers have plenty of cool-weather fishing opportunities to look forward to in the coming months.
AUSTIN – Deer hunters will go to great lengths in pursuit of a trophy white-tailed buck; poachers are willing to go farther, breaking ethical rules and game laws designed to protect and conserve one of Texas’ most prized wildlife resources.
SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in cooperation with Texas 4-H Shooting Sports, recognized finalists in this year’s Whiz Bang sporting clays competition at the National Shooting Complex here recently.
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Artificial Reef Program sank the USTS Texas Clipper 10 years ago on Nov. 17, 2007. Prior to its sinking off South Padre Island, the 473-foot vessel was a World War II troop transport, New York City luxury liner and a sea cadet training ship.
ROCKPORT— This Saturday, Goose Island State Park will reopen its boat ramp to general public use. The park received significant damage during Harvey and access has been limited during cleanup and while repairs are being made.
AUSTIN – The Botanical Research Institute of Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department expand areas of their collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today formalizing the two organizations’ commitment to plant conservation, exploration, and education.
AUSTIN —The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has confirmed the presence of invasive giant salvinia at three locations on Lake Fork – the largest total infestation ever found on the lake.