Texas Parks and Wildlife Season 39, Episode 4: Bear Release, Restoring the Prairie & Plains Playas

1

Prairie Protectors, Operation Snap & Sabine River Paddling

Landowners restore grasslands for wildlife in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. Protected alligator snapping turtles are returned to their natural habitats, after the trafficked animals are saved from interstate poachers. Enjoy a meandering paddle down the Sabine Sandbar Paddling Trail in deep East Texas and find some peace and quiet.

30 min

2

Bayou City, State Park Map Art & Gulf Coast Vibes

Meet some of Houston's most dedicated bayou conservationists, striving to keep a city and its watery wilderness in better balance. A hiker and woodworker preserves his favorite park places as wooden map mementos. Relax to some sights and sounds from Goose Island State Park

30 min

3

Dutch Oven Club, Wetland Stewards & Hunting Quail

Members of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society whip up some tasty dishes at Cleburne State Park. By creating new wetlands and planting native grasses, Ronald Gard and his family have made Prairie Rose Ranch a haven for wildlife. A first-time hunter pursues quail around the state.

30 min

4

Bear Release, Restoring the Prairie & Plains Playas

An orphaned black bear cub is released at Devils River State Natural Area. Landowners restore native prairies in Fayette County. Learn how playa lakes provide water and wildlife habitat to the Southern Plains.

30 min

5

Horned Lizards Return, Cibolo Nature Center & Cooper Lake

The San Antonio Zoo raises Texas horned lizards in a bold effort to restore them to the landscape. The Cibolo Nature Center, once a neglected dump, is now a beautiful park preserving the Cibolo Creek watershed. Cooper Lake State Park in northeastern Texas offers shady campsites and cabins, a large lake, and plenty of fishing.

30 min

6

Trail Taming Troubadour, Melton Ranch, Park Arts

Meet a mountain-biking musician who has been taming trails in San Angelo for decades. Paul Melton's knowledge of quail habitats and his own land management practices have made him a leader in the quail conservation community. The beauty of a natural place draws some different crowds when arts are paired with parks.

30 min

7

Honey Creek, Helping Bats & Prairie Dog Ranch

The Nature Conservancy has worked for decades with landowners, Texas Parks and Wildlife and other partners to conserve one of the most pristine streams in Texas. Bat biologists climb deep into culverts to fight the deadly White-nose Syndrome, Master Naturalists save prairie dogs.

30 min

8

Protecting Devils, Coastal Classroom & Lake Corpus Christi

Unchecked by dams and protected from groundwater diversion, the ruggedly beautiful Devils River is the wildest, cleanest river in Texas. Holly Grand's coastal fisheries programs teach Texans about the beauty and bounty of the ocean. From lake activities to birding and hiking, Lake Corpus Christi has just what folks need for a great getaway.

30 min

9

Outdoor Inspiration, Shield Ranch & Community Warden

Cole Johnson may be legally blind, but he doesn't let his disability slow him down. At the Shield Ranch, an historic ranching family has taken steps to forever protect their wild land. John Kohleffel has made it his mission to support his community in many different ways with a focus on teaching kids about the joys of the great outdoors.

30 min

10

Watching Wildlife, Preservation Partners, Guadalupe River

See what passes by the trail cameras at Lake Ray Roberts State Park, both day and night. A conservationist forms vital partnerships to preserve more private Texas land, so migratory birds will have a place to survive and thrive. Visit Guadalupe River State Park to camp under the trees, take a bike ride, and find some fun for the whole family.

30 min

11

Song of the Prairie, Angler Access, Hueco Tanks

See and hear the Attwater's prairie chicken and discover how this beautiful bird's destiny is tied to the health of coastal prairies. A new partnership with private landowners is helping anglers and paddlers gain better access to Texas rivers. Visit a desert oasis near El Paso that has drawn visitors for thousands of years.

30 min

12

Big Cypress Bayou, Caprock Canyons, Guadalupe Bass

Conservationists are rethinking dam operations in the Big Cypress Bayou region to help restore river flows. Experience the rugged beauty of Caprock Canyon State Park in the Panhandle of Texas. Spend some time with the state fish of Texas, the Guadalupe bass.

30 min

13

Birding Enthusiast, Sharing the Harvest, Mission Tejas

Sheila Hargis says birding and the birding community transformed her life by channeling her enthusiasm for ornithology onto others. Hunters have provided over 10 million servings of venison to Texans in need. Mission Tejas State Park is a natural escape into deep-rooted Texas history, located at the north end of the Davy Crockett National Forest.

30 min

14

Dragonfly Chasers, Hiking Blind, Texas Bison

Dragonflies are fascinating insects and scientists have developed unique methods of tracking them. Blindness Outdoor Learning & Development weekend at Palmetto State Park fosters outdoor skills and life confidence for the young participants. The story of the Southern Palins Bison herd in Texas is one of survival and hope for the future.

30 min

15

Coastal Life, Weekend Hunters, Mineral Wells Trailway

The Texas Youth Hunting Program hosts an archery hunt in the Hill Country. Where trains once traveled, hikers and bikers now reign, on a protected pathway connecting Weatherford and Mineral Wells. An amazing assortment of wild animals live within the waters of the Texas Gulf Coast.

30 min

16

Copper Breaks Park, Tracking Bass, Caprock Biking Trails

Copper Breaks State Park offers a variety of wildlife and activities for visitors to explore, most notably stargazing. Biologists are tracking largemouth bass to determine if increased fishing pressure is changing fish behavior. Ride along over natural bridges and through tunnels on the mountain biking trails at Caprock Canyons State Park.

30 min

17

Master iNaturalist, Possum Kingdom & Green Jays

Anybody can use the iNaturalist app to identify plants and animals while also contributing to science. Just an hour west of DFW, Possum Kingdom State Park offers the perfect family weekend. To find out how Green Jays are adapting to the changing environment of the Rio Grande Valley, biologists are trapping, tagging, and tracking these colorful birds.

30 min

18

Fishing Tradition, Sky Island, Park Provider

Follow an angler fishing for dinner and sport in Trinity Bay. The Nature Conservancy has led a 30-year effort to protect tracts of land high in the Davis Mountains. From fleets of trucks to tons of toilet paper, it takes a massive amount of equipment and supplies to keep our state parks running and ready for visitors.

30 min

19

Outdoors Woman, A Longleaf Legacy, Snorkeling Padre

After 30 years of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop, it's time to look back and celebrate this empowering program. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is working to restore the imperiled longleaf pine tree using prescribed fire. A family explores South Padre Island beaches looking for fun above and below the water.

30 min

20

Becoming a Warden, Kemp's Ridley, Bat Conservation

A young man's hunting experiences lead to a career as a Texas game warden. For over 40 years, biologists and volunteers have been working to save the Kemp's ridley sea turtles from extinction. Once reviled, bats have enjoyed a remarkable image do-over thanks to Bat Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy

30 min

21

Paddlefish, Field to Fork, West Texas Steward

Prehistoric paddlefish return to the waters of Caddo Lake and Big Cypress Bayou, and what they may teach us about the importance of natural water flows is shocking. Follow Noah Rudino, a health and nutrition enthusiast, as he hunts for the first time for his food. Ruthie Russell devotes her life to the conservation of the land she loves

30 min

22

Trail Runners, Point of Entry, Waco Paddling

Trail runners explore the wilds of Texas and discover a sense of empowerment, community, and adventure. Texas Game Wardens are helping check for illegally transported game and fish resources at the border. Located right in the heart of downtown Waco, the Bosque Bluffs and Brazos Bridges paddling trails provide a unique view of the outdoors.

30 min

23

Water Wardens, Clymer Meadow, Franklin Mountains

Clymer Meadow Preserve contains some of the largest and most diverse remnants of the Blackland Prairie. Follow along with Texas Game Wardens as they help make sure folks stay safe on the water. Franklin Mountains State Park is the largest urban park in the nation, making it an accessible getaway.

30 min

24

Dallas Paddling, San Antonio Drinking Water, Art of Texas

San Antonio voters have approved measures to protect the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, knowing it will provide water for people and wildlife. Join some kayakers on the Paddle Point Creek Paddling Trail near Dallas. Meet artists commissioned to capture the natural beauty of state parks for enjoyment on canvas and coffee tables everywhere.

30 min

25

Texas Bigfoot, Seminole Canyon, Black Bears

Could there be a Bigfoot in Texas? Myth or mammal, these tall tales draw many to the mysteries of the outdoors. Ancient rock art and outdoor recreation will draw you to Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site. In the high Chihuahuan desert just north of Terlingua, residents are once again learning to live with bears.

30 min

26

Bird Migration, Fishing for Drum & Saving Baffin Bay

On this special episode, head to the coast to explore the sparking waters of the Laguna Madre. This long, narrow bay system stretches 130 miles between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande. Follow along as we go wade fishing in the shallows, birding along the bay, and studying the natural wonders of this pristine Texas treasure.

30 min