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 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.

March 5, 2020

White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Bat in Texas

AUSTIN – For the first time, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists have confirmed the disease white-nose syndrome (WNS) in a Texas bat. Up until this point, while the fungus that causes the disease was previously detected in Texas in 2017, there were no signs of the disease it can cause. WNS has killed millions of hibernating bats in the eastern parts of the United States, raising national concern.

Feb. 27, 2020

Chronic Wasting Disease Discovered at Deer Breeding Facility in Kimble County

AUSTIN – Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been discovered in a 5 ½-year-old white-tailed deer in a Kimble County deer breeding facility, marking the first positive detection of the disease in the county.

Feb. 26, 2020

TPWD Sets Public Scoping Meetings to Gather Input on Oyster Mariculture

AUSTIN– The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking public input on the draft proposed rules for the Texas cultivated oyster mariculture program.

Oct. 30, 2019

Iconic Whooping Cranes Making Way to Texas Coast

AUSTIN – With the first sightings of iconic, endangered whooping cranes along the Texas coast, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding Texans to be on the lookout for these impressive birds as they move through the state.

Oct. 23, 2019

Wildlife Experts Predict Quality Quail Hunting Ahead of Season Opener Oct. 26

AUSTIN – With quail hunting season opening Saturday, Oct. 26 statewide, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife biologists predict average to above-average prospects across most of the state.

July 23, 2019

Texas Statewide Quail Symposium Set for Aug. 14-16 in Abilene

ABILENE — Quail enthusiasts, get ready for the return of the Texas Statewide Quail Symposium Aug. 14-16. This semi-annual conference brings together quail experts from across the state and beyond to discuss current topics of interest in quail conservation and management.

July 15, 2019

Game-changing, bipartisan wildlife legislation introduced in Congress

Fish and wildlife populations are under increasing pressure from habitat loss, invasive species, emerging diseases, and extreme weather events in Texas and throughout the country. As many as one-third of our nation’s species are on the brink of becoming threatened or endangered. A bill just introduced in Congress seeks to reverse this trend.