Dec. 3, 2007

Master Naturalist Program Seeks Applicants

AUSTIN, Texas — Twenty-two chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist program are conducting spring training classes for volunteers wanting to learn about natural resource and conservation management.

Whooping Crane Numbers Break Record Fifth Year In A Row

AUSTIN, Texas — Wildlife scientists report that for the fifth year in a row a record-breaking number of whooping cranes have completed their winter migration to the Coastal Bend area of Texas. So far, 257 whoopers have reached Texas, breaking the previous count of 237 whoopers present during last year’s winter, and experts predict more are on the way.

Nov. 20, 2007

Holt Appoints Bass to Texas Deer Breeding Interim Committee

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Peter Holt of San Antonio has appointed Chairman Emeritus Lee Bass of Fort Worth to an interim committee that will study deer breeding issues before the next session of the Texas Legislature.

Nov. 12, 2007

Proposal Would Require Permits to Sell/Possess Venomous Snakes

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved the publication of proposed regulations that would require a new permit for people who sell, transport or possess venomous snakes not indigenous to Texas, plus four species of pythons and one species of anaconda.

Bryant Named Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year

AUSTIN, Texas — Game Warden Jarrod E. Bryant of Marshall has been named “Texas Wildlife Officer of the Year” for 2007 by the wildlife conservation and hunting organization Shikar-Safari Club International.

TPWD Offers Grants To Support Texas Wildlife Action Plan

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is seeking grant proposals to allocate almost $1,000,000 towards projects to implement conservation practices that benefit priority species and habitats identified in the Texas Wildlife Action Plan.

Oct. 31, 2007

Monarchs Migrate Off The Beaten Path

AUSTIN, Texas — Observers have spotted tens of thousands of monarch butterflies migrating across the Texas coast from Louisiana to Mexico in what is being described as "the best coastal monarch viewing in the last 15 years."

Oct. 23, 2007

Outlook Bright for Upcoming Deer Season

AUSTIN, Texas — Last year’s Texas deer hunting season was considered text book by state wildlife biologists. This season, hunters may have to throw out the book.

Oct. 22, 2007

Alamo Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists Marks 10th Anniversary

SAN ANTONIO — The Alamo Area chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program is this year celebrating a decade of achievement in environmental conservation, restoration and education. The movement to produce a trained corps of dedicated citizen volunteers has since spawned a nationally-recognized statewide program with 41 other local chapters across Texas, but it all began here 10 years ago.

Oct. 15, 2007

TPWD Dedicates Justin Hurst WMA in Honor of Fallen Warden

FREEPORT, Texas — The site formerly known as Peach Point Wildlife Management area near here is being formally rededicated as the “Justin Hurst WMA” in recognition of the game warden and former wildlife biologist who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year. The renaming of the site was made official during a special ceremony Oct. 12.