Wildlife & Conservation
Bold New Kingsville Breeding Facility Aims to Give Texas Ocelots a Second Chance
For decades, ocelot populations in Texas have been stuck in a holding pattern.
A Nature Photographer's Advice on Capturing the Wild
Being a nature photographer requires patience, skill and... did I mention patience?
- Mapping the Secret Lives of Texas Birds and Bats Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
- Ask a Grackle: Where Did Grackles Live Before There Were Urban Areas? Story by The Grackle
- Citizen Scientists Are an Essential Part of Research in Texas Story by Eva Frederick
Black-Tailed Jackrabbits Use Their Speed to Escape
Long ears and long legs give jackrabbits their distinctive look.
Novice Game Warden Experienced TV-Worthy Adventures in a Remote Texas Outpost
Texas lawman served in rugged Guadalupe Mountains in the 1960s.
East Texas Wildlife Management Area Is a Watery Wonderland
Angelina-Neches/Dam B straddles an area between two rivers.
Recent in Birding
Bird Blinds of the State Parks
These structures bring birds up close for visitors of all abilities.
Story by Melissa Gaskill
Tiny Blanco State Park is a Huge Hit With Texans
Thanks to its mile of riverfront and family-friendly feel, Blanco is beloved by generations.
Story by Eva Frederick
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 SwansonRecent in Critters
Texas Skunks: The Big Stink
Researchers delve into the marvelous, malodorous world of Texas skunks.
Story by Russell Roe
Red Wolves Aren't Gone — They're Mixed With Coyotes on Galveston Island
Red wolf/coyote hybrids cause a stir in Galveston and the wildlife world.
Story by Russell A. Graves
Long-Tailed Weasels Are Stealthy, Fearless Hunters
Weasels are rarely seen cousins of skunks and badgers.
Story by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
Copperheads Are Coming for the Cicadas
When cicadas emerge, these snakes congregate in large groups for a big meal.
Story by Andy Gluesenkamp
Houston Crayfish Are Chimney Builders
You won’t find the recently discovered Houston burrowing crayfish in your etouffé.
Story by Michael WarrinerRecent in Plants
Water Hyacinth Is Pretty, Purple and a Pest
The lovely blooms of the water hyacinth can turn a waterway into a tangled mess.
Story by Dyanne Fry Cortez
Native Texas Fruits Make a Tasty Harvest for Pies, Jellies
Use Texas’ bounty of native fruits for something good to eat and a connection to the outdoors.
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 Frederick
Prairie Clovers Come in All Shapes and Sizes
The plants are good indicators of healthy prairie.
Story by Jason SinghurstRecent in Land Stewardship
Repairing Mother Nature: J. David Bamberger
Leopold Conservation Award Winner turns ‘worst ranch in Texas’ into conservation showcase
Story by Tom Harvey
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 WildlifeRecent in Conservation
O.H. Ivie Lake Is on a Record Run for Big Bass
This Texas lake filled the ShareLunker books since 2021.
Story by Kirk McDonnell
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 JacksonRecent in Science
West Texas Holds North America’s Deepest Underwater Cave — and a Deadly Fascination for Cave Divers
A portal to untold depths hides beneath the surface at Phantom Springs Cave, outside Balmorhea.
Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
Citizen Scientists Are an Essential Part of Research in Texas
Community members collect valuable data on Texas plants and animals.
Story by Eva Frederick
Bold New Kingsville Breeding Facility Aims to Give Texas Ocelots a Second Chance
For decades, ocelot populations in Texas have been stuck in a holding pattern.
Story by Tenley Jackson
Mapping the Secret Lives of Texas Birds and Bats
A tracking system called Motus provides a glimpse into the movements of migrating creatures.
Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
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 FrederickRecent in Wildlife Management Areas
East Texas Wildlife Management Area Is a Watery Wonderland
Angelina-Neches/Dam B straddles an area between two rivers.
Story by Russell Roe
Texas Offers Duck Hunting on Public Land
You can find wings over the wetlands at these Texas wildlife management areas.
Story by Eva Frederick
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