VICTORIA- Texas Game Warden Trey Kram’s dedication to educating his community, engaging local organizations and pursuing poaching investigations has set a high standard among his peers and throughout the state. This month the National Wild Turkey Federation recognized Warden Kram as the Texas Wildlife Officer of the Year.
TYLER– Beginning Monday, March 28, the Tyler community will have a new location to service its boating, fishing and hunting needs. Housing divisions including Texas Game Wardens, Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and State Parks, the facility will act as a one-stop-shop for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) business.
ATHENS – The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) is the perfect place to kick off the month of April with “Fishing Fools Day,” an event celebrating all things fishing. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 2 at the TFFC in Athens.
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) law enforcement reports. *Images of individual field notes are available upon request with the TPWD press office.
AUSTIN – Communities in Texas will have more opportunities to explore their natural surroundings thanks to grants awarded through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP). These 41 grant partnerships, totaling $2,048,678, will support community-based conservation and outdoor recreation activities throughout the state and build on $22 million already awarded by TPWD over the past 25 years.
AUSTIN – Texas Game Wardens are currently accepting applications for summer internships across the state. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department encourages college students of all backgrounds and fields of study to apply for these 12 available openings.
AUSTIN – This week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hunter Education. The first course in Texas was held on Feb. 28, 1972. Since then, over 1.5 million students have completed Texas Hunter Education throughout the state.
BASTROP – On Tuesday, Jan 18, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) initiated a prescribed fire at Bastrop State Park that spread beyond the intended fire boundaries. The cause of that spread is unknown at this time. TPWD is working with the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management, Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS), the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and other partners to contain the fire, provide resources and support, and protect the health and safety of its neighbors.
GALVESTON – What started off as a run-of-the-mill investigation into a series of boat title discrepancies, concluded this past summer with multiple felony charges against three individuals suspected of running an interstate theft ring and the recovery of over $275,000 worth of stolen watercraft and other vehicles. Sergeant Game Warden Jonathan Griffin of the Marine Theft Investigation Unit facilitated an impressive two-year investigation into the organized crime ring leading to a nomination for Investigator of the Year Award by the International Association of Marine Investigators.
AUSTIN– Since 2012, the Game Warden Peace Officer’s Association has been working to relocate the memorial from the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens to the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. The life-size bronze figure of a Texas Game Warden stands to honor the wardens that lost their lives in the line of duty and serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Texas Game Wardens.