July 9, 2007

Hunters Urged To Enroll in Hunter Education Courses Now

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging hunters in need of certification to enroll soon as hunter education courses are filling up fast.

July 5, 2007

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Season Opens July 15

AUSTIN — The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both state and federal waters will open 30 minutes after sunset on Sunday, July 15, 2007. This opening date is based on an evaluation of the biological, social and economic information to maximize the benefits to the industry and the public.

June 28, 2007

Game Wardens Urge Caution Around Water as Rains Continue Across North and Central Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens are urging Texans to exercise extreme caution in low-lying areas, around lakes and reservoirs and at stream and river crossings as rain continues to fall across a broad swath of North and Central Texas today.

June 25, 2007

Boating Fatalities Up Over Same Period Last Year

AUSTIN, Texas—Texas boating fatalities for the first five months of 2007 are up over the previous three years, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reports show. State game wardens say the increase underscores the need for boater education and shows why TPWD and its partners are this summer launching the Nobody’s Waterproof™ public awareness effort statewide.

TPWD Internship Program Trains Future Conservationists

AUSTIN, Texas — All across Texas this summer, 147 student interns are getting their hands dirty and feet wet in the real world of wildlife conservation, environmental law enforcement, state parks and other aspects of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Research Proves Bats Help Control Insect Pests

AUSTIN, Texas — New research shows bats suppress agricultural insect pests, saving farmers millions of dollars in avoided pesticide costs and better crop yields. Although the study area focuses on eight counties in Texas, scientists say insect suppression by bats benefits farmers up into the Midwest and Canada, and that this underscores the need to protect large bat colonies and promote public education and bat ecotourism.

Marina Owner Offers Iraq Vets Free Fishing on Lake Fork

ATHENS, Texas—Joe Axton spent nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and he’s heard stories of Vietnam veterans being treated poorly on their return home. Now the owner of Axton’s Bass City on Lake Fork, Axton is doing what he can to see the same thing does not happen to military service men and women returning from duty in Iraq.

June 11, 2007

TPWD Director Robert L. Cook Announces Retirement Plans

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Robert L. Cook today announced his intention to retire Aug. 31. Cook has been executive director since February 2002 and has spent the majority of his professional career at the agency.

June 1, 2007

Seguin Coliseum To Host Funeral for Game Warden Ty Patterson

AUSTIN, Texas — Funeral and visitation services for Game Warden Teyran “Ty” Patterson will take place in Seguin Sunday and Monday, with more than 1,000 people expected to attend. A benefit fund has also been set up at a Seguin bank for donations to support the Patterson family.

Legislature Approves Additional Park Funding

AUSTIN, Texas — The 80th Texas legislature has approved HB 1 and HB 12, which provide significant new funding for state parks. HB 1, the appropriations bill, and several related provisions in HB 12 will provide approximately $182 million in additional funding for state and local parks in the 2008-2009 biennium.