Skunk found with highly contagious, easily transmissible virus HPAI -- a first for a Texas mammal, TPWD says
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials said Tuesday that a highly contagious and easily transmissible virus called Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, had infected the first mammal in the state.
Hundreds of bats found dead under overpasses across Texas following winter storm
Following freezing temperatures experienced across Texas last week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is receiving several reports of bat fatalities. Sharing an update on its Facebook page, the state agency warns Texans never to attempt to handle bats, dead or alive, as many colonies are being found frozen under overpasses throughout the state. According to the Houston Zooโs bat specialist and naturalist Suzanne Jurek, Winter Storm Uri largely impacted bats as they had already used most of their fat reserves, leaving them vulnerable. Texas Parks and Wildlife is recording wildlife mortalities due to Winter Storm Uri. To help, the department says Texans can report their findings of dead bats to the iNaturalist project.
Houston Zoo releases 25 sea turtles back to the Gulf after Texas freeze
HOUSTON โ 25 green sea turtles were given a second chance to live and released back to the Gulf thanks to animal care professionals from the Houston Zoo. Partnering with Texas A&M University-Galveston and Texas Parks and Wildlife, the zoo facilitated the rescue after last weekโs winter storm, according to a news release. Last week, as Texas experienced unprecedented freezing conditions from Winter Storm Uri, 37 green sea turtles were rescued along the Texas coast. Working with our partners @AggiesByTheSea, the Houston Zoo's veterinary staff oversaw the care & treatment of these wild sea turtles. pic.twitter.com/DqoYsJwLcm โ Houston Zoo (@houstonzoo) February 24, 2021Eleven of the turtles rescued continue to receive veterinary care from Houston Zoo and are not ready for release at this time, the news release said.
The wild reports from last monthโs Texas Game Warden Field Notes
Here are some of the wildest reports from September 2020:Familiar FacesA Titus County game warden caught three men fishing on Lake Welsh without fishing licenses. The warden called for backup and a second Bexar County game warden came to assist in the search for the other trespasser. Axis DeniedAn Edwards County game warden and a Real County game warden had been investigating an individual for several weeks for hunting from a public roadway. Upon further investigation, the game wardens found both groups in possession of multiple game fish including bass and crappie. Shrimpin' Ainโt EasyA Calhoun County game warden was patrolling Matagorda Bay in the early morning hours when he saw numerous commercial shrimp boats traveling into the bay.
Man says he spotted venomous coral snake at Houstonโs Memorial Park
HOUSTON โ Watch your step the next time youโre at Memorial Park. Visitor Christian Seehausen is giving Houstonians the heads up about a rare venomous snake spotted near the trails. Seehausen shared a picture in a Reddit post, writing โthis was just a foot or two off the trail, right next to a bench on the Inner Loop trail near the Nature Center.โCoral snake spotted at Memorial Park. โBut still, be careful out there.โ[RELATED: Venomous snakes in Texas you need to know about]According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, coral snakes are one of four kinds of venomous species in Texas and are shy and rarely seen. The snake can be identified by its small mouth and red, yellow, and black ordered stripesAccording to Texas Parks and Wildlife, coral snakes are usually not aggressive and though its bites are dangerous, they are rare.
Balmorhea State Park, Home of a Cherished West Texas Spring Pool, is Set to Grow Sevenfold in Size
Balmorhea State Park, where a spring-fed swimming pool sparkles against a prickly desert backdrop, is set to expand to nearly seven times its current size. The popular West Texas park, where swimmers and scuba divers glide through clouds of fish, will add 643 acres to the existing 108 acres, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials announced this week. After leaving the pool, water from the springs empties into two man-made cienegas, or desert marshes, where visitors can observe wildlife. Balmorhea is such a unique park, said Stephanie Salinas-Garcia, a spokesperson for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Its a wonderful gateway into that West Texas landscape and shows the beauty of the area.
Notes from the Texas Game Wardens: A sack of undersized oysters, shark fin soup and drugs in a boat
Two Harris County game wardens were searching the web when they saw a restaurant advertising sharkโs fin and shredded chicken soup on their menu. Shortly after, the second warden found another piece of sharkโs fin wrapped in cellophane in a near-by freezer. The warden then picked up a menu off a nearby table and pointed to the soup section which listed sharks fin soup for sale. All sharks fin was seized, and charges are being filed with the Harris County District Attorneyโs Office. When the warden asked if he had a fishing license, the man said he didnโt need one because he wasnโt fishing.
Photos: 47 fishing records broken in Texas in 2019
SAN ANTONIO โ Dozens of Texans reeled in large hauls in 2019 โ a year that Texas Parks and Wildlife called โgreatโ for fishing. Fishermen and women broke 47 new state fishing records in Texas this year, according to TPWD. For individual lakes, rivers or bays, 434 waterbody records were broken. 200-plus-pound fish swim in Texas rivers, some over 50 years oldFishermen and women must measure and weigh their catch, take several photos and complete the application. โWe are happy to recognize great catches even when they may not have set a new record.โHereโs a list of fishing records broken in 2019, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Black bear sightings in Texas remain rare
HOUSTON โ According to Texas Parks and Wildlife officials black bear sightings tend to increase in the fall as the animals prepare for hibernation. Still, state officials say confirmed sightings of black bears on public land remain rare. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife there have been 61 Black Bear sightings in 14 counties over the last two years. Evans said Black Bears may be making a come back in Texas. Evans said there have been no major issues with bears in Texas over the last five years.