Wild Thing

Paper Wasp in flight.
March 2026 Issue

Paper Wasps Create Thriving Societies and Deserve Your Respect

These charismatic insects build cities of paper for their colonies.

Story by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
A view of a jackrabbit from behind.
January/February 2026 Issue

Black-Tailed Jackrabbits Use Their Speed to Escape

Long ears and long legs give jackrabbits their distinctive look.

Story by Melissa Gaskill
Salamander swimming the green plants in Barton Springs
November 2025 Issue

Meet the Barton Springs Salamander, an Aquatic Austinite

This red-gilled resident dwells in the heart of the city.

Story by Gwendolyn Reed
Velvet ant that is orange and black on white background
October 2025 Issue

An Ant That’s Not an Ant

Velvet ants are wasps that pack a powerful sting.

Story by Katie Potter
An armadillo walks along a dappled-sunlit trail
October 02, 2025

Meet the Critters of Texas State Parks

Our public lands are where the wild things are.

Story by Susan Griswold
Two baby eastern gray squirrels in nest surrounded by red fall leaves
August/September 2025 Issue

Keeping Count of East Texas Squirrels

An East Texas WMA maintains the state’s longest-running squirrel population database.

Story by Eva Frederick
Light red western coachwhip with head off ground in a rocky clearing in west Texas
August/September 2025 Issue

The Western Coachwhip Moves Like Lightning

The western coachwhip is one of the fastest snakes in North America.

Story by Gwendolyn Reed
A white ibis flies in a cloudy sky
August/September 2024 Issue

Ibises Were a Symbol of the Ancients

These long-billed birds, like those depicted in hieroglyphics, stroll Texas marshes.

Story by Bill Rhodes
A giant water bug on a stone surface
July 2024 Issue

A Bug That Hunts Fish

The giant water bug can capture small fish and deliver a mighty bite.

Story by Bill Rhodes
Vinegaroon climbing over rocks with a whip like tail
March 2024 Issue

Vinegaroons Sport Whip-Like Tails and Spray Acid

These weird and wonderful arachnids live in West Texas.

Story by Bill Rhodes
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The October 2024 cover of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, featuring a surfer riding a wave along the Texas Gulf Coast

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