U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar Encourages Texans in Panhandle to Monitor New Endangered Species Listing

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today alerted stakeholders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to delay implementation of a final rule listing the lesser prairie-chicken as an endangered species. The endangered species listing will impact private landowners and industry stakeholders, including those in energy and agriculture, in the Texas Panhandle. Earlier this month, FWS issued a final rule listing the northern and southern populations of the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered and provided a tailored […]

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar Encourages Texans in Panhandle to Monitor New Endangered Species Listing

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today alerted stakeholders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to delay implementation of a final rule listing the lesser prairie-chicken as an endangered species. The endangered species listing will impact private landowners and industry stakeholders, including those in energy and agriculture, in the Texas Panhandle. Earlier this month, FWS issued a final rule listing the northern and southern populations of the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered and provided a tailored […]

TPWD Responds to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Decision to List the Lesser Prairie-Chicken

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) executive director David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. said Wednesday he applauds 16 years of “tremendous” voluntary collaboration with private landowners and industry to conserve lesser prairie-chicken habitat and reiterates the department’s opposition to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listing the species. “This decision jeopardizes decades of voluntary conservation efforts, increases regulatory burden and does not assure recovery of the species,” Yoskowitz said. USFWS published a final rule Nov. 25 listing the lesser […]

Whooping Cranes Spotted on the Texas Coast During Annual Migration

With the first sightings of iconic, endangered whooping cranes along the Texas coast being reported, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is reminding Texans to be on the lookout for these impressive birds as they move through the state. Janess Vartanian, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Acting Whooping Crane Coordinator, says that on October 21, a pair of whooping cranes were the first to arrive this season on Matagorda Island. Although this […]

Texas’ Seventh Annual Pollinator BioBlitz is the Bee’s Knees!

For the next two weeks Texans can take part in the seventh annual Texas Pollinator BioBlitz. In support of the event, organizations and sites around the state will be hosting a variety of events to get people outdoors to observe pollinators of all types in yards, natural areas, gardens, parks and community centers. Of course, you don’t have to visit a particular site to participate; your very own yard or green space will do. The […]

Public Fishing, Paddling Access Expands with Two New Sites

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is expanding public fishing and paddling opportunities in the state with the addition of two leased river access sites through the River Access and Conservation Area (RACA) program. The new site at Cupgrass Cabins provides a second leased access point near County Road (CR) 150 on the South Llano River, giving ample public parking at this popular crossing.  The new RACA site at John Knox Ranch is the first […]

20th Anniversary for Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program

This February marks 20 years for the Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program. Every year countless volunteers spend 10 days on the water searching the Texas bays and shorelines for abandoned crab traps. When left in the water, these crab traps foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines, “ghost fish,” and create unsightly views. To date, they’ve hauled off more than 40,000 of these derelict traps. From Friday, February 18th through Sunday, February 27th, Texas coastal waters […]

Remainder of Powderhorn Ranch Donated to TPWD

With the first sightings of iconic, endangered whooping cranes along the Texas coast being reported, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is reminding Texans to be on the lookout for these impressive birds as they move through the state. Whooping cranes are the tallest, rarest birds in North America. Currently, there is a population of around 506 individuals. Thanks to coordinated conservation efforts, whooping cranes are slowly returning from the brink of extinction. Whooping […]

Catch the Buzz with Texas’ Sixth Annual Pollinator BioBlitz

For the next two weeks, Texans are invited to take part in the sixth annual statewide Pollinator BioBlitz. The goal of the BioBlitz, which runs from Oct. 1-17, is to raise awareness of the diversity and importance of pollinators while bringing greater attention to the critical habitat needs of monarchs and native pollinators across the state. “Documented declines in insect populations, particularly pollinators, have brought to the forefront the need to better understand these species […]

Service Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Listing of Six Mussels in Central Texas

Protections for central Texas mussels will improve water quality and health of streams and rivers, to benefit diverse wildlife, local communities and businesses Based on recently completed Species Status Assessments (SSAs), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to protect six central Texas mussels under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and designate critical habitat for each. The Service is proposing to list as endangered the Texas pimpleback, Guadalupe orb, Texas fatmucket, Guadalupe fatmucket and […]