Once thought to be on its way to extinction, the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is making a comeback thanks to the efforts of a few dedicated biologists and volunteers. Powderhorn Ranch, the largest remaining undisturbed tract of land on the Texas coast has been acquired for conservation of native habitats and wildlife. Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Producer Bruce Biermann recently retired after 26 years of state service. Here are some highlights of a few of his favorite stories.
Since 1971, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has recognized fishing records of all kinds. Meet a man who holds a record number of records. Tucked away in the Texas Hill Country, Longhorn Cavern has been home to an underground restaurant, concert hall, and a fallout shelter. Visit Monahans Sandhills State Park near Midland-Odessa and surf, slide, or tumble down the dunes for some family fun.
See how scientists are using laser technology to preserve Hueco Tanks rock art. The waters of Mineral Wells, west of Fort Worth, have long lured visitors. Relaxation at a lakeside state park is more the draw than the historic spas today, but entertaining exercise is also an option. Meet some landlords looking out for their tenants at a small high-rise condo complex that's completely for the birds.
A large-scale research project is looking into how agriculture may affect mule deer movements and survival in the Texas Panhandle. From fishing to crabbing to kayaking, Sea Rim State Park has a variety of activities. At Dinosaur Valley State Park, researchers are studying the hidden lives of Texas dinosaurs through the analysis of prehistoric tracks.
Invertebrate biologist Archis Grubh really digs into his job. For Dr. Grubh it's all about the bugs. Lake Colorado City State Park is a cool contrast to the arid environment that surrounds it. The Wexford Ranches have been in the same family for 136 years. Meet the next generation as they prepare to cope with the long-term economic challenges threatening their large family ranch.
Ian Kasnoff turned a 16-foot long trailer into a camera and darkroom Follow Ian as he documents some Texas state parks with his mobile trailer camera. Using GIS info and biological data, Karim Aziz designed a mapping system to predict where alligator gar will spawn. Meet a photographer who's at home on the road, chasing her dream to the most awe-inspiring places her teardrop camper can be towed.
Follow a young hiker on her first long-distance hike on the longest trail in Texas. Share in her triumphs, along with fatigue, blisters, and ticks. Feral hogs are a real problem in Texas and getting worse. Justin Foster and his team are on the frontlines working to find a solution. About two hours east of Dallas, you'll find Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, a hidden getaway for folks of all ages.
Elusive and rarely seen, "Lions of West Texas" chronicles the mountain lion research conducted in the Davis Mountains of west Texas. Green sea turtles have been showing up on Texas beaches in larger numbers than ever, and a network of people have been rescuing struck or stranded turtles. A weekend goose hunt for women is a first-time experience for some and a weekend break for others.
Grassland birds are declining across North America. Research is underway to find out how to save the disappearing grasslands and the birds that call them home. Visit a park on the edge of East Texas where families find water, woods, and wildlife, along with primitive camping and some new cabins. With the aid of game cameras, see the variety of animals that benefit from man-made water guzzlers.
New awareness is being brought to a centuries-old pathway, the Camino Real de los Tejas. Meet a man on a mission to highlight its history as we trace a National Historic Trail through Texas. A new app helps Texas Game Wardens work with oyster harvesters to know where they can, and can't, legally harvest this delicacy. Birds, bats and caves are on display at Kickapoo Cavern State Park.
A young man's dream to become a Navy Seal and serve his country ends too quickly, but his family keeps his memory alive with a memorial deer hunt. Opening Texas' rivers to public access is one of the roles of the Texas River Access & Conservation Areas Team. Discover Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site with a park regular.
Follow conservationist and hunter Terrance Jackson as he travels across East Texas in search of the elusive Eastern Wild Turkey. Located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the H.E. Butt Foundation Camps host over 20,000 guests a year while maintaining a diverse and healthy habitat. Deepening a community's connection to the Colorado River pays dividends in Bastrop.
Meet a mechanic and mountain-biking musician who has been taming trails in San Angelo State Park for decades. The bison that roam the prairies of Caprock Canyons State Park have some little friends. Check out the park's prairie dog town and the fury animals that call it home. Take a look at efforts underway to save one of the most threatened coastal birds in Texas, the black skimmer.
Texas Game Wardens help protect our lands, our waters, our fish, our wildlife, our property, our environment, but also our lives. By keeping their Central Texas farm in agriculture for more than a century, the Vacek family honors their heritage. North Deer Island is one of the largest rookery islands on the Texas coast, but it is slowly eroding away, threatening the birds that nest there.
For more than 45 years, Alan Haynes of Tyler has demonstrated a commitment to promoting fishing and conservation of our natural resources. The overriding goal at the Lochridge Ranch is to enhance and conserve the native ecosystem. The Lyndon Baines Johnson State Park and Historic Site is all about history, complete with a farm depicting life on the farmstead as it was back in 1918.
Archeologists are working with tribal elder at Palo Duro Canyon State Park to unearth century-old artifacts and more accurately interpret area history. Nicolette Ledbury's passion is recruiting and providing opportunities for minorities, veterans, and women at Texas Parks & Wildlife. Check out the Gus Engeling WMA, where the bottomland hardwood swamps make it the place for wintering waterfowl.
Follow along as biologists struggle to save one of the most endangered birds in all of Texas, the Attwater's prairie chicken. Hurricanes cause terrible damage to coastal habitats. Rebecca Hensley is leading a team to monitor and preserve these valuable lands. The Texas Outdoor Family program helps to get folks with little camping experience outside for some weekend fun.
Searching for hidden game, weapons, missing people, or playing with a tennis ball, it's all in a day's work for canine commissioned Texas Game Wardens. Chad Norris is working with a lot of different groups and people to save San Solomon Springs. How many different birds can be seen in a day, a morning, or from just one spot? Follow some folks on the Great Texas Birding Classic to find out.
Texas state ornithologist Cliff Shackelford answers all your bird questions on his "Bird Calls" radio show. One of Rick Torres' passions is leading families on night hikes at Ray Roberts Lake State Park. Exploring the depths of Texas' artificial reefs, documenting species of fish and coral, and monitoring the health of our reefs are all in a day's work for members of the TPWD Artificial Reef Program.
Some invasive ants are driving biologists crazy, but new research into control methods is underway at the lab and in the field. Victor Emanuel has been chasing birds for over 70 years and inspiring thousands of others to do the same. Dating back to 1885, the Head Family has worked to preserve the Pigfoot Ranch's pristine native prairie savannahs and its crystal-clear creeks.
Introduced diseases could pose a serious threat to native shrimp and an entire industry. See ho scientists and saltwater anglers play a role in keeping Texas shrimp stocks healthy. The Kirchoff family has spent 10 years restoring the native prairie grasses that once dominated their family's 200 acres. Spring colors soften the rugged Chihuahuan desert landscape at Big Bend National Park.
Avian enthusiasts in south Texas are turning their attention to a bird which researchers know little about: the Red-Crowned Parrot. Regional Interpretive Specialists teach park staff about a state park's natural and cultural resources. In 2005, news of an extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker appearing in Arkansas electrified the birding community and led to years of searching for this lost species.
Alligator gar are among the largest freshwater fish in Texas lakes and rivers. New research is revealing more information about the gargantuan gar. Visit the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, a place dedicated to studying all things quail. Ethel was the very first bass in the ShareLunker Program. She became a symbol of good management and forward-thinking conservation efforts.
Witness the best of the best hunting dogs in action as they compete at the Master National retriever competition. The sounds of the waives, the peeps of a shorebird and a breeze in your face, birding at the beach is all this and more. Just because it's pretty doesn't mean it's good. Some common landscape plants are escaping our yards and causing problems for native plants and wildlife.
Caddo Lake State Park is the ideal gateway to exploring the history and mystery of swampy Caddo Lake. The Killam Duval County Ranch is a real working ranch that is making its own way through cattle ranching and hunting leases. Five generations of the Stringo family have shrimped the Texas coast. Times are tough, and while most of the family have given up, there is one Stringo still on the water.
The beauty of a natural place takes on fresh dimension and draws different crowds when arts activities like sculpture, painting and photography are paired with parks. Hurricane Harvey wiped out one of the best birding boardwalks on the coast. But the boardwalk and the birds are back. Landowners and biologists are working to stabilize pronghorn antelope populations on the Marfa Plateau.
