Aug. 30, 2008

New East Texas Fish Hatchery Construction Underway

JASPER, Texas — Construction of the new $27 million East Texas Fish Hatchery, expected to be completed in early 2010, is now underway.

TPWD Biologists Seek Info on Turtle Collections as Commission Amends Prohibited Nongame Regs

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission acted Aug. 21 on staff recommendations to amend regulations on prohibited nongame species.

Game Warden Field Notes, Aug. 30, 2008

The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

Aug. 21, 2008

TPWD Continues Park Upgrades, Faces Increased Costs in 2009 Budget

HOUSTON — Texans will continue to see benefits in 2009 from significant new funding for state and local parks, as well as new money to build a new East Texas fish hatchery and to help game wardens enforce wildlife laws and border security, all part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 2009 budget.

July 29, 2008

Game Warden Field Notes, July 29, 2008

The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

July 25, 2008

Texas Game Wardens Head Home, State Parks Staff Work to Reopen Valley Parks

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens redeployed from the Rio Grande Valley to their home counties this morning as state parks officials began cleaning up storm debris in area parks.

July 21, 2008

Hunter Education Classes Filling Up During Summer

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging hunters in need of certification to enroll soon as hunter education courses are filling up fast. As hunting seasons draw closer, demand for hunter education classes is expected to increase.

July 14, 2008

Deadly Holiday Weekend Prompts Water Safety Warnings

AUSTIN, Texas — During the July 4 holiday weekend, at least 13 Texans drowned in public waters. Seven of those were in North Texas, and together they bring the total number of water-related fatalities in Texas to 66 for this year. More than half of those deaths did not involve boats.

July 8, 2008

Most Mountain Lion ‘Sightings’ In Texas Unreliable

AUSTIN, Texas — Most reports of mountain lion sightings in Texas are never verified with physical evidence, although such reports can arouse fear and cause a local publicity stir, according to wildlife experts with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

July 3, 2008

Caution Urged on Lakes and Bays During Busy Holiday Weekend

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials are urging boaters to take extra care as thousands take to the state’s lakes and bays over the busy Independence Day holiday weekend.