Wildlife & Conservation
Meet The Barton Springs Salamander, an Aquatic Austinite
This red-gilled resident dwells in the heart of the city.
100-Mile Laguna Madre Is a Biodiversity Haven on Texas Coast
Remote, shallow and salty Laguna Madre offers good times and conservation opportunities.
- Javelinas Are Having a Moment Story by Joseph Richards
- Conservation Dogs Help Detect Wildlife, Check for Invasives Story by Eva Frederick
- The Search for the Lost Salamander By Eva Frederick
A Journey Along Texas' Storied Neches River
Four pieces of public land offer glimpses of the iconic East Texas river from top to bottom.
The New World Screwworm Is Poised to Make a Comeback; Texas Will Be Ready
Thanks to Texas scientists, the United States has fought this threat before, and won.
Recent in Birding
Candy Cain Abshier WMA Is A Site For Soar(ing) Eyes
Each fall, birders flock to Galveston Bay’s Candy Cain Abshier Wildlife Management Area.
Story by Dan Oko
Ask A Grackle: Why Are Grackles So Darn Loud?
The Grackle tells the legend of its shrill, grating voice.
Story by The Grackle
Is Texas the Birdiest State? It Depends on How You Count the Birds
Texas ruled the roost before California took the lead. Maybe the lists don't tell the whole story...
Story by Romey Swanson
South Texas Draws International Bird-Watchers in Search of Elusive Species
Bring your binocular and spotting scopes to see Texas' rare birds.
Story by Steve Hall
Bird Bingo Is Back for a Second Year
The months-long birding game runs from May to November 2025.
Story by Eva FrederickRecent in Critters
An Ant That’s Not an Ant
Velvet ants are wasps that pack a powerful sting.
Story by Katie Potter
Alligators Are Good Moms, Keeping Hatchlings Safe
At Brazos Bend, moms make sure little gators grow up till they reach the top of the food chain.
Story by Montserrat Canedo
Hognose Snakes Act Scary But Aren't Dangerous
Harmless eastern hognose can use a variety of tactics to scare us, including looking like a cobra.
Story by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
Unraveling the Mysteries of American Eels
Scientists work to discover the little-known life cycle of eels in Texas.
Story by Melissa Gaskill
Keeping Count of East Texas Squirrels
An East Texas WMA maintains the state’s longest-running squirrel population database.
Story by Eva FrederickRecent in Plants
Wild Harvest: Native Texas Fruits
Use Texas’ bounty of native fruits for your next pie or jelly.
Story by Dyanne Fry Cortez
This Collection of Plants Helps Scientists Understand how Texas has Changed Over Time
The plant collection resides at Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Ball Moss Lives in Trees but Doesn’t Harm Them
The flowering plant is often seen on dead branches.
Story by Eva FrederickRecent in Land Stewardship
Meet the Majestic Mountains of Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area
The 12,000-acre property is home to bighorn sheep and other desert wonders.
Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
Recording Rock Imagery at Hueco Tanks State Park
The first comprehensive rock art survey at Hueco Tanks has yielded unrecorded pictograph panels.
Story by Eva Frederick
Seminole Canyon Pictographs Reveal Clues to an Ancient Culture
Experts call the rock imagery "the oldest library in North America."
Story by Russell Roe
From Mortgage Banker to Wildlife Technician
How one man made a radical career change.
Story by Texas Parks and Wildlife
Boggy Slough Conservation Area Earns Top Award for Land Stewardship
The diverse 19,000-acre preserve lies in East Texas' Pineywoods.
Story by Lerrin JohnsonRecent in Conservation
Meet The Barton Springs Salamander, an Aquatic Austinite
This red-gilled resident dwells in the heart of the city.
Story by Gwendolyn Reed
Cross Bar Is a Special Piece of Federal Land in the Panhandle
The recreation area is the only Bureau of Land Management site in Texas. Access is coming.
Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
Meet the Critters of Texas State Parks
Our public lands are where the wild things are.
Story by Susan Griswold
Conservation License Plates Support Wildlife, Parks
Program marks 25 years of conservation on Texas roads.
Story by Tenley Jackson
Disease Leads to a Critical Crossroads For Texas Bighorn
TPWD and partners focus on fighting a deadly disease affecting the sheep.
Story by Lydia SaldañaRecent in Science
The New World Screwworm Is Poised to Make a Comeback; Texas Will Be Ready
Thanks to Texas scientists, the United States has fought this threat before, and won.
Story by Eva Frederick
Javelinas Are Having a Moment
The collared peccary is gaining increasing interest from Texas hunters and researchers.
Story by Joseph Richards
Prosthesis Keeps A Big Bass Swimming
Thanks to some 'East Texas engineering,' the catch of ShareLunker 655 came with a comeback story.
Story by Marissa Ferguson
Building a Bass Lake
TPWD team gets a rare chance to help design North Texas reservoirs with fishing in mind.
Story by Russell A. Graves
ShareLunker Program Uses Science to Create Bigger, Better Bass
Decades of genetic data help build an ever-growing big-bass family tree.
Story by Kirk McDonnellRecent in Wildlife Management Areas
Dove Hunting Is Top-Notch at Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area
The South Texas site is best known for white-winged doves.
Story by Russell Roe
Blaze Your Own Trail at Black Gap Wildlife Management Area
Experience pure West Texas desert at its finest.
Story by Eva Frederick