Texas Parks and Wildlife

Dive into the San Marcos River to learn how spearfishing may be our best defense against an introduced aquarium fish. Visit Lake Somerville, where two parks are joined by a 13-mile wilderness trail, traveled by families, fitness buffs and horseback riders. And see how a man-made wetland near Dallas cleans water while teaching the next generation about nature.

Tag along on a family outing and see how springtime is the ideal time to fish for white bass in Texas rivers and streams. Meet a veterinarian in Hereford who takes care of animals when he isn't taking care of his family's land, restoring grasslands and playas for healthy wildlife and water supplies. And take in the grand view from the high West Texas hilltop known today as Big Spring State Park.

See how some South Texans have come up with a tasty way of tackling the feral pig problem. Visit the Quail Ranch, where an energy company is restoring grassland habitat in the Permian Basin, benefitting prairie dogs, burrowing owls, and other wildlife. And take a trip to Kickapoo Cavern, where visitors can get away from it all, watch a bat flight, and maybe even spot an endangered songbird.

Meet a couple who wanted a property where they could ride their bikes, but who have become habitat creators for native bees and butterflies. Travel to a ranch in the southeastern part of the state where cattle-raising and coastal prairie conservation are a family affair. Take a trip to shady Fort Boggy State Park, where primitive camping and fancy cabin glamping are both available to visitors.

Sharks are under threat from a global appetite and unregulated fishing. See how biologists study shark health and behavior in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit a ranch in the Panhandle that preserves delicate grasslands, springs, and a long human history within its scenic hills and canyons. Some visit parks to escape technology, but a few folks like to bring it along and do a little broadcasting.

Learn how plant experts collect seeds to help propagate rare plants and protect our natural heritage. Visit a Hill Country ranch where a subterranean discovery became a nature tourism magnet, and where ranching operations care for resources above and below the ground. Follow a survey of grassland birds near Marfa that is part of an effort to document dwindling habitat from Canada to Mexico

Meet the people saving an eroding island for nesting birds, in honor of a past protector. Texas' tallgrass prairies have mostly disappeared, but the Ebel family is working to restore their piece of prairie to what it once was. Travel to San Angelo State Park where wide-open spaces abound and where visitors can hike, bike, or gallop across more than 50 miles of trails.

Follow along as a young adventurer tackles her first long-distance hike on the longest trail in Texas and feel her triumph as well as her aching feet. Visit the Wagley Ranch in Palo Pinto County where endangered birds in hillside woodlands are right at home with a cattle herd on native grasslands. See how migrating monarchs turn a grove of oak trees into a magical monarch motel.

Learn what it takes to train a top-level hunting dog and watch the action as these top dogs are put to the test. Take a deep dive into Longhorn Cavern and explore a place rich in both interesting history and fascinating geology. See how going fishing in stocked ponds and takes is an affordable way to get the family out of the house and get kids excited about the outdoors.

Threatened by habitat loss and the pet trade, red-crowned parrots have found a home in South Texas. Follow along as researchers try to count flocks of birds and learn more about them. Spend some time on goose Island State Park's quarter-mile-long fishing pier and see what takes the bait. Learn how researchers are teaming up to take a look at mule deer populations in the Texas Panhandle.

Join two friends traversing Texas from east to west on motorcycles and follow their adventure as they journey from the state's lowest elevation to its highest. Visit Fort Parker, on the Navasota River, and enjoy a tranquil setting for camping, hiking, biking, and fishing. Follow a family in the Rio Grande Valley enjoying a day in the field on a dove hunt and back home for dinner.

Follow along as biologists track endangered whopping cranes to learn how to better protect this species. Visit a park southwest of Fort Worth built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and explore the limestone bluffs and wooded hillsides surrounding its quiet lake. Some fragile flying insects bring beauty and business to Texas each year. Meet some folks who look out for our butterflies.

Find out how an annual cleanup of lost and abandoned crab traps in our coastal bays and waterways helps save crabs and other sea life. Meet some birders flocking to Bastrop as the city embraces their birds and nature tourism opportunities. And see what researchers are learning about how bobcats live and move within our urban spaces, with little conflict and almost without notice.

Learn about efforts underway to save one of the most threatened coastal birds in Texas, the black skimmer. Goliad State Park & Historic Site is known for its connection to history. It also has a connection to the San Antonio River as part of the Goliad Paddling Trail. Fisheries biologists like to know what anglers are after, and one way they do that is called a creel survey.

Grab a fishing pole and head to a coastal jetty. You're sure to meet other anglers, and you never know what will be biting. Introduced diseases could pose a threat to native shrimp and an entire industry. See how anglers can help keep Texas shrimp stocks healthy. Meet a man who takes the scale of photography back a century or two, crafting a large camera from a trailer he tows to scenic parks.

From majestic oak to towering cypress, get to know a few of the state park system's most famous trees and see what makes them special. Visit the state park gateway to Caddo Lake and explore its rich history and swampy mystery. See how Palo Duro Canyon's youngest park host found a way to save money on housing while attending college.

Travel the Colorado River with biologists searching for a rare native fish, the blue sucker. From the surf and dunes of the Gulf to the bay side's quiet marsh and native prairie, Galveston Island State Park holds a lot to discover. As green sea turtles show up on Texas beaches in larger numbers than ever, a network of people step in to rescue stuck or stranded turtles.

Dave Roberts didn't know much about Texas, so he decided to weave across it entirely on foot, camping at state parks along the way. Visit a Hill Country park that offers tubing and fishing on the South Llano, and hiking and biking in the hills around it. Grab your board and hang ten in Corpus Christi. We join some surfers to find out why they like to ride the waves in this coastal community.

Join a team of first-time fort builders as they get together to construct a unique, nature-inspired play structure from recycled tires. Meet a game warden father and his biology professor son who monitor alligators and their ecosystem at Brazos Bend State Park. See how Buescher State Park offers a shady escape for hikers, bikers, and others looking for a Central Texas getaway.

The State Parks Board was created in 1923, making 2023 the 100th year of Texas's park system. Learn about the history of our treasured parklands, and some hopes and plans for the next century of state parks. Meet the latest inductee in the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. And watch the birds and rippling waves from the pier at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park.

From the brush country of South Texas to the mountains of West Texas, meet two women whose outdoor interests are as different as the landscapes. Feel the Gulf breezes and listen to the lapping water at Goose Island State Park north of Corpus Christi. Meet a passionate protector of native fish and the rivers and streams where they live

School sports teach teamwork, focus, and discipline, and archery in school is no different. Follow a team of student archers from San Antonio on their journey to compete in the state finals tournament. Stretch your idea of park activities with a yoga hike. Meet a biologist taking a leadership role in ensuring fish and oyster populations remain healthy for the future.

How many different birds can be seen in a day, a morning, or from just one spot? Follow some folks who decided to find out. See how a resdesigned boat is giving anglers with disabilities easier access to the water and helping a boat captain reclaim his career. Once home to traveling trains, Old Tunnel State Park is now a seasonal home for millions of bats.

Follow volunteers monitoring bird injuries and mortalities in downtown Dallas and learn how keeping our lights out during migration can help our feathered friends. The mineral waters of Mineral Wells have long lured visitors, but lakeside recreation is the draw today. See how exhibit staff work to tell the stories of state parks through signs, maps, and displays.

Meet artists commissioned to capture the natural beauty of state parks for enjoyment on canvas and coffee table everywhere. Spend time with a birder keeping an eagle eye on migrating hawks in the Rio Grande Valley. Jeff Gunnels is a dedicated Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist who supervises five Wildlife Management Areas ensuring many different species and their habitats are preserved for generations to come.

Spend a full 24 hours at Ray Roberts Lake State Park and explore why camping families, biking clubs, horse riders, dog walkers, and anglers choose to spend their leisure time at this multi-faceted park north of Denton. While the large lake and oak-covered hills that make up the park feel far away from urban life, this escape is surprisingly close to the bustling cities of Dallas and Fort Worth.