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Uploads by Texas Parks and Wildlife

Help Protect Our Native Ants


There are over 290 species of native ants in Texas and they play an important part in our ecosystem. Learn about some of them and how to avoid harming them when trying to kill invasive Imported Fire Ants. To learn more about ants go to: https://fireant.tamu.edu/learn/native-ants/ To find your local TPWD biologist go to: https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/habitat-management/find-a-wildlife-biologist/ 00:01- introduction, over 290 species of native ants in Texas 00:19- 4 species in this park 00:26- Red imported fire ants 00:59- Red harvester ants 01:20- Pyramid ants 01:47- Leafcutter ants 02:42- importance of native ants 03:44- ant study by Kira Gangbin 04:01- Imported fire ants threaten horned lizards 04:14- study method 05:07- Cheese ants 05:29- Big-headed ants 06:00- Acrobat ants 06:16- Harvester ants 06:29- Harvester ants critical to adult horned lizards 06:41- alates, winged reproductive ants 06:55- small native ants are food for baby horned lizards 07:05- removing bait and poison from test sites 07:38- targeted method to poison Imported fire ants at home 08:06- boiling water to treat Imported fire ants 08:23- other invasive ants: Tawny crazy ants & Argentine ants 08:38- native ants deserve our protection

Palmetto State Park


Palmetto State Park is a hidden gem in central Texas with some famous flora unlike anything you’d normally see in the region. It offers easy, accessible trails that make the park’s jungle-like beauty available to anybody looking for a casual stroll in nature. The San Marcos River also provides kayaking and fishing opportunities for folks looking for riverside relaxation. Full Episode: https://youtu.be/xikUWZkY9XA Texas Parks and Wildlife Episode 14, Season 41, Program 3414 When to watch on Texas PBS stations: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/tv/tvwhere.phtml #texasoutdoors #outdooradventure #outdoors #texas #texasstateparks #stateparks #statepark #fishing #kayaking #camping

Baffin Bay, Palmetto State Park, Living with Bears | Texas Parks & Wildlife Series (Full Episode)


Episode 14, Season 41 of Texas Parks & Wildlife, a weekly PBS series about the great outdoors. The salty waters of Baffin Bay have long been a fishing hotspot for anglers on the Texas coast, and folks are working hard to keep it that way. With its lush forest floor and swampy marshes, Palmetto State Park is an unusual slice of the tropics in central Texas. In the high Chihuahuan desert just north of Terlingua, residents are once again learning to live with bears. The Science of Saving Baffin Bay - 1:39 The salty waters of Baffin Bay, part of the upper Laguna Madre, have long been a fishing hotspot for anglers on the Texas coast. Over the last few decades however, scientists have become concerned with the water quality and other threats to these important fish populations. The Harte Research Institute and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have been working to monitor the conditions of the bay and ensure a healthy future for the Laguna Madre. Palmetto State Park - 12:55 Palmetto State Park is a hidden gem in central Texas with some famous flora unlike anything you’d normally see in the region. It offers easy, accessible trails that make the park’s jungle-like beauty available to anybody looking for a casual stroll in nature. The San Marcos River also provides kayaking and fishing opportunities for folks looking for riverside relaxation. Living with Black Bears - 17:02 Once common across Texas, black bears were extirpated from the state by the 1950’s. Today, sightings are on the rise, signaling that the deserts of West Texas may once again be bear country. Hunters Feeding the Hungry - 19:46 Texas deer hunters who fill up their freezer during deer season but still have a few tags and are looking for a way to share their harvest might consider making a trip to southwest San Antonio. The San Antonio Food Bank is working with Hunters for the Hungry to help get protein-rich venison to Texans in need. Postcard From Texas: Southeast Texas Birds - 23:47 Songbirds and waterfowl congregate around a wetland rookery near Houston. Chapters: Intro - 00:00 Saving Baffin Bay - 1:39 Palmetto State Park - 12:55 Amongst Black Bears - 17:02 Hunters for the Hungry - 19:46 Southeast Texas Birds - 23:47 Share a story from this episode: https://youtu.be/UomghvCt8i4 https://youtu.be/HJHJNhlT2cA https://youtu.be/JMUjEy7_6_w https://youtu.be/7ba5xz_akWo Episode 14, Season 41, Program 3414 Air Dates: January 4-10, 2026 & July 19-25, 2026 When to watch on Texas PBS stations: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/tv/tvwhere.phtml Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texasparksandwildlife Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texasparkswildlife/ #texasoutdoors #outdooradventure #outdoors #texas #nature #documentary #fullepisode #texasstateparks #stateparks #statepark

Snapping Turtles, Cooper Lake, Future Fishing Holes | Texas Parks & Wildlife Series (Full Episode)


Episode 13, Season 41 of Texas Parks & Wildlife, a weekly PBS series about the great outdoors. Protected alligator snapping turtles are returned to their natural habitats, after the trafficked animals are saved from interstate poachers. Cooper Lake State Park in northeastern Texas offers shady campsites and cabins, a large lake, and plenty of fun. Fisheries biologist Dan Bennett is working to turn two new Texas reservoirs into trophy bass fishing destinations. Operation Snap - 1:39 Alligator snapping turtles, protected in Texas, are saved from out-of-state poachers. After being rehabilitated and prepared for scientific study, these trafficked turtles are returned to their natural habitats in Texas waters. Cooper Lake State Park - 10:13 Since first opening in the 1990s, Cooper Lake State Park has become an outdoor recreation hotspot in Northeast Texas. Fishing, hiking, swimming and camping are just a few things to do in and around the 20,000-acre lake. Parks & Wildlife People: The Lake Maker - 14:57 Two new reservoirs in North Texas will supply thousands of gallons of water to the Dallas-Fort Worth region, but that’s not all that lies beneath the surface. A partnership between Texas Parks and Wildlife and the controlling water authorities is turning these new lakes into future trophy bass fishing destinations. Follow along as District Fisheries Biologist Dan Bennett shows off the first new reservoir in the state in 30 years and gives a preview of what’s to come at the second. The Nature Conservancy: Nature-Based Solutions - 18:38 Nature-based solutions harness the power of our lands and waters to tackle challenges like air and water quality, flooding, extreme heat, nature loss and much more. Across the Lone Star State, The Nature Conservancy and its partners are restoring prairies, wetlands and urban green spaces to build healthier communities and shape a more sustainable future for Texas. By mimicking natural systems, we can deliver lasting benefits for both people and the environment. Postcard From Texas: Barton Springs Pool - 24:13 This three-acre pool in Austin, Texas, is fed by underground springs and provides a year-round hangout for swimmers. Chapters: Intro - 00:00 Snapping Turtles - 1:39 Cooper Lake State Park - 10:13 The Lake Maker - 14:57 Nature Based Solutions - 18:38 Barton Springs - 24:13 Share a story from this episode: https://youtu.be/lJIhfxH5xmA https://youtu.be/HaDHmxwDEoc https://youtu.be/jEAiRo9BCAA https://youtu.be/xMXS2Oih9dA Episode 13, Season 41, Program 3413 Air Dates: December 28, 2025-January 3, 2026 & July 12-18, 2026 When to watch on Texas PBS stations: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/tv/tvwhere.phtml Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texasparksandwildlife Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texasparkswildlife/ #texasoutdoors #outdooradventure #outdoors #texas #nature #documentary #fullepisode #texasstateparks #stateparks #statepark

Gulf Coast Shrimp


Off the coast of Matagorda Bay, swims some of the best seafood delicacies in the state of Texas. Don’t skip this mouthwatering step-by step walkthrough. Under the careful direction and attention of Huckleberry’s very own Davis Turner, learn how to prepare these top tier meals yourself! On this segment, Davis shows you how to make Gulf Coast Fried Shrimp the Huckleberry way! Full Episode: https://youtu.be/7APYB8RtPPs Texas Parks and Wildlife Episode 12, Season 41, Program 3412 When to watch on Texas PBS stations: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/tv/tvwhere.phtml #texasoutdoors #outdooradventure #outdoors #texas #chef #howto #cooking #shrimp #seafood #gulfcoast