July 25, 2012

Game Warden Field Notes, July 25, 2012

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

July 23, 2012

Game Wardens Stress School Not Out for Teen Boaters

AUSTIN – State Game Wardens are seeing a spate of mishaps on popular lakes this summer involving teen boat operators who have not taken mandatory boater education.

Conservation Group Sparks Lake Buchanan Renaissance

ATHENS—Lake Buchanan has suffered multiple setbacks from drought in recent years—boat ramps out of water, declining striped bass fishery and decreased tourism—but a local conservation group has engineered ways to combat all those problems.

July 20, 2012

Longhorn Cavern State Park Provides Illuminating Experience

Staff from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Longhorn Cave Tours, Inc., area chambers of commerce, as well as volunteers and dozens of guests were on hand at Longhorn Cavern State Park Thursday evening to cut the ribbon and ceremoniously “reopen” the popular Hill Country destination, following a major renovation of the cave’s lighting system.

July 18, 2012

Zebra Mussels Found in Lake Ray Roberts

AUSTIN – Three years after the discovery that zebra mussels had established themselves in Lake Texoma, the destructive invasive species has been confirmed in Lake Ray Roberts north of Denton. This is only the second lake in Texas found to have zebra mussels, and the first in the Trinity River basin.

July 11, 2012

Master Naturalist Program Seeks Applicants

AUSTIN — Seven chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist program have scheduled summer and fall training classes for volunteers wanting to learn about natural resource and conservation management.

Texas Early Migratory Seasons Set for Dove, Teal and Canada Geese

AUSTIN — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SRC (Service Regulations Committee) has approved the 2012-2013 Texas early migratory game bird seasons, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide for dove, a 16-day early season statewide for teal, and 16-day early season for Canada geese in the Eastern Goose Zone.

July 10, 2012

Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Far West Texas

AUSTIN — Samples from two mule deer recently taken in far West Texas have been confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). These are the first cases of CWD detected in Texas deer. Wildlife officials believe the event is currently isolated in a remote part of the state near the New Mexico border.

July 9, 2012

New Residents Arrive at Caprock Canyons State Park

QUITAQUE, Texas – There’s a new town along the Texas Panhandle Plains.

July 6, 2012

Repaired Battleship TEXAS Reopens Saturday

LA PORTE – The Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site will reopen to the public tomorrow after being closed since June 24 for repairs to fix leaks in the historic vessel’s metal hull.