Wildlife & Conservation
Pecos River's Forgotten Reach Gets Some Attention
A nonprofit group and partners pursue conservation efforts in an area hit by overpumping, drought.
Conservation Dogs Help Detect Wildlife, Check for Invasives
Keen sense of smell gives canines a growing role in conservation work.
- 100-Mile Laguna Madre Is a Biodiversity Haven on Texas Coast By Whitney Bishop
- The Search for the Lost Salamander By Eva Frederick
- Studying the High-Elevation Owls of the Davis Mountains Story by Romey Swanson
Timber Rattlesnakes Warn Texans, 'Don't Tread on Me!'
The mascot of the iconic "join or die" comic looks fearsome, but would rather hide than strike.
Recent in Birding
100-Mile Laguna Madre Is a Biodiversity Haven on Texas Coast
Remote, shallow and salty Laguna Madre offers good times and conservation opportunities.
By Whitney Bishop
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
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 Frederick
Rarely Seen Cuckoo Spotted in Birding Competition
Birder causes a stir with sighting in Galveston.
Story by Kristen Tibbetts
Birds Everywhere: Audubon Marks 100 Years of Coastal Bird Conservation in Texas
Conservation group started by protecting nesting islands along coast.
Story by Lisa Gonzalez and Larry McKinney
Spot Birds, Win Prizes With Bird Bingo
Choose a statewide or regional card to play the game.
Ibises Were a Symbol of the Ancients
These long-billed birds, like those depicted in hieroglyphics, stroll Texas marshes.
Story by Bill Rhodes
Gulf Coast Bird Swims Underwater
Anhingas are adapted to swim underwater, but they've got to dry their wings afterward.
Bill Rhodes Bill Rhodes
Port Aransas' Whooping Crane Festival Celebrates Texas Coast's Most Iconic Bird
Each of our 2025 travel stories focuses on a Texas festival. We kick off the series in Port Aransas.
Story by Eva Frederick
Speaking Bird Language at Estero Llano Grande
State park offers avian delights for those who know what to look for.
Story by Alexander Martin
Ask A Grackle: Tattered Grackles Aren't as Thirsty as They Look
The grackle allays fears of parched birds.
Story by The Grackle
Several Texas Birds Are Getting New Names
More than 70 American and Canadian birds named after people will get new names in the coming years.
Photo by Ian Davies | Macaulay Library
How To Thrive As An SOB (Spouse Of A Birder)
Suggestions for friends and partners of true birders.
By Kim Marvel
TPWD Television Series Celebrates 40th Season
Emmy Award-winning Texas Parks and Wildlife TV show on PBS embarks on 40th season.
Del Rio's Birding the Border Offers Insider Access to Bird Lovers
The three-day event connects birders with local landowners.
Story by Jen Shugert
Mustang Island Helps in Recovery of Aplomado Falcons
Coastal park plays a key role in the recovery of birds of prey
Melissa Gaskill Melissa Gaskill
Ask A Grackle: Why Are Grackles So Darn Loud?
The Grackle tells the legend of its shrill, grating voice.
Story by The GrackleRecent in Critters
Red Wolves Had Their Last Stand in Texas
America’s ‘other wolf’ was reintroduced to the wild after a last-ditch roundup in Texas.
Story by Russell Roe
A Smaller Subspecies of American Beaver Makes its Home Along the Rio Grande
The Rio Grande beaver was identified as a subspecies of the American beaver in 1913.
Story by Melissa Gaskill
Snake Days Is an Annual Celebration of All Things Reptile and Amphibian
The "herpers" who attend form close-knit community of dedicated snake lovers.
Story by Eva Frederick
Scientists Unravel the Mysteries of American Eels in Texas
Eels change appearance several times in a lifetime; project has yielded data on their life cycle.
Story by Eva Frederick
Keeping Count of East Texas Squirrels
An East Texas WMA maintains the state’s longest-running squirrel population database.
Story by Eva Frederick
The Western Coachwhip Moves Like Lightning
The western coachwhip is one of the fastest snakes in North America.
Story by Gwendolyn Reed
The Comal Springs Riffle Beetle Is Perfectly Suited to Central Texas Springs
This tiny-but-mighty beetle is endemic to only two Edwards Aquifer springs.
Story by Bill Rhodes
Snout Butterfly Swarms Can Darken South Texas Skies
Butterflies with long noses undertake remarkable migrations.
Story by Ben Hutchins
Aquatic Caterpillars Turn Into Beautiful Moths
Caterpillars can be pesky, but their transformations into moths are worth the trouble.
Story by
Southern Stargazers Have Adapted to Life Under the Sand
These ocean fish bury themselves in the sand and can deliver a shock.
Story by Karina Kumar
Ocelots on the Brink of Extinction in Texas
Secretive cats affected by urban expansion, habitat destruction and vehicular mortality.
Story by E. Dan Klepper
Giant Redheaded Centipede: Stuff of Nightmares
This insect is one of Texas' most terrifying critters.
Story by Ben Hutchins
The Search for the Lost Salamander
A pale, eyeless amphibian swims beneath our feet, and one herpetologist is determined to find it.
By Eva Frederick
Backyard Wildlife Become YouTube Stars
With cameras and website, an Austin couple share their animal videos with the world.
Story by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
Biologists Discover Alligator Snapping Turtles Pack Bite and Brain
Scientists continue to study the animal as it recovers from overharvesting.
Story by Eva Frederick
Paddlefish: Prehistoric Paddlers Return to Caddo
Paddlefish, the oldest animal species in North America, face challenges to survival.
Story by Eva Frederick
Red Wolves Aren't Gone — They're Mixed With Coyotes on Galveston Island
Red wolf/coyote hybrids cause a stir in the wildlife world.
Story by Russell A. Graves