Wild Thing

A lit up firefly on a flower.
July 2026 Issue

Texas Fireflies Spark a Singular Sense of Wonder — And They're Surprisingly Diverse

Our state may have been the ancestral home of the beloved lightning bug.

Story by Shilo Urban
White and brown Pronghorn in a brown grassy field.
June 24, 2026

Speedy Pronghorn: Made to Move

Speedy pronghorn face challenges they can’t outrun.

Story by Paula Levihn-Coon
A stick bug climbing from leaf to leaf.
May 2026 Issue

Stick Bugs Are Masters of Disguise

These insects, which can grow up to seven inches long, survive by blending in.

Story by Pam LeBlanc
A Snowberry clearwing moth getting nectar from a flower.
April 2026 Issue

Snowberry Clearwing Moths Masquerade As Bumblebees To Deter Predators

These chunky moths are harmless — and helpful pollinators.

Story by Denise Viosca Gary
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
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
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
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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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