Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Most Texans who live in “gator country” do so without incident. Yet, when the large reptiles get too close for comfort, they’re called nuisance alligators – although, to gators, we are the pests.

Human habitat is expanding- we’re encroaching on their home. We’re building our home in the alligator’s normal territory. So, we’re displacing them and sometimes pushing them into areas where we’re in conflict with them.

Jennifer Owen, Natural Resource Specialist Estero Llano Grande State Park, offers tips on gator etiquette.

If you find yourself a little too close to an alligator, what you should do is stop immediately, locate the alligator, and then slowly take steps backwards-don’t run. And then just turn around and walk away. If it is in a public area, you want to make sure to inform some authorities- either park rangers or you might want to call the game warden and let them know so that they can safely move the animal out of the way.

How can humans safely coexist with alligators?

Well, I think having a healthy respect for them and learning about them is number one. Realizing that they are amazing creatures and then realizing that they need their land. We need to save some area for them to have as their own so that they can continue their lives.

Find a link to information about nuisance gators at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

A modern day contemporary of dinosaurs, alligators have survived their prehistoric ancestors into the 21st century. One species of alligator is native to Texas.

The alligators that we have in Texas are the American alligator and it’s the largest reptile in North America. They can be about 6 to 16 feet long and they’re usually pretty dark green- sometimes they can appear black.

Jennifer Owen is the Natural Resource Specialist at the World Birding Center’s Estero Llano Grande State Park in the Valley.

You’ll find alligators in Texas basically all along the coast. They’re magnificent animals and amazing to see in the wild.

Once on the endangered species list, alligators were de-listed in 1980s; however, they remain protected in Texas, as well as the other ten states where they occur.

There used to be a big problem with alligator populations because they were hunted, not quite to extinction, but they were hunted to the point where they’re populations were severely dwindling. Then, Texas Parks and Wildlife here in our state developed programs to deal with hunting of alligators and protecting their habitat. They’ve really been on the rebound and have become a healthier population now.

Find a link to more information about alligators at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

It’s summer camp season. But instead of sending the kids off to make potholders and Popsicle stick picture frames, send them to fish camp in East Texas where they’ll learn a lifelong skill.
Fish Camp is a four day camp and it will be in the mornings only from nine to one PM. It’s a camp where the kids can learn about fish, fishing, and water in general. They’ll not only learn the basics, but a few extra techniques and things about the tackle and bait, and different kinds of things to use for different kinds of fish.

ZoeAnn Stinchcomb is with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, the site of the camp.

We really want to get the kids outside and doing things outdoors, because a lot of kids nowadays don’t go outdoors as much as we want them to. Families have kids that are out of school. You can have a little more extra time to spend, and what better time to experience the Texas outdoors.

Fish camp is for kids 9 to 15 years old, and fifty dollars per child. The deadline to register is Friday, June 22.

It’s a fun thing to do and plus we’ll be getting wet, and that’s always a good thing to do during the summer I think.

Fish Camp is July 3rd through 6th at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Visit passporttotexas.org to find out how to register.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

July 3–6, 2007 — Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center — Camp Fish — Boys and girls ages 9-15 can learn fishing techniques and skills and practice them in our stocked casting pond. They will also study aquatic ecology and learn how important water quality is to fish and people. Call for times; fee $50 per person includes daily admission and all equipment; preregistration required, deadline June 22, 2007. To register, e-mail terry.bedford@tpwd.state.tx.us or call (903) 670-2211. (903) 676-BASS.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

The 12th annual Lone Star Land Steward Awards were handed out last month in Austin to private landowners for the innovative ways in which each manages land for habitat and wildlife.

The highest honor, the Leopold Conservation Award, was presented, in partnership with the Sand County Foundation, to a north Texas couple.

We are pleased to award it this year to 77 Ranch in Navarro County. Gary and Sue price are the owner operators. They’ve done tremendous work in restoring Blackland Prairie, grassland prairie, over many years, and are very deserving of the highest recognition.

Linda Campbell is program director for private lands and public hunting.

They have been working at this for about thirty years. They’ve taken a lot of old, worn out cotton farms; they have reintroduced native grasses… He’s a leader in the community, Mr. Price. And they are true land stewards to the absolute definition of the term. They’ve done a tremendous amount of work on their own place, and have had a lot of influence, I think, on many other landowners as well. :22

The Leopold Conservation Award comes with a $10,000 prize and the Leopold crystal award.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

In a state where more than ninety percent of the land is privately owned or managed, it’s essential to recognize and honor the work of private landowners for their achievements in habitat management and wildlife conservation. In Texas we present them with Lone Star Land Steward Awards.

We recognize up to ten winners in each of the eco-regions.

Linda Campbell is program director for private lands and public hunting.

We also recognize a corporate winner, one from our wildlife management associations, and this year we’re recognizing a special category for conservation development.

In partnership with the Sand County Foundation, http://www.sandcounty.net/, Texas Parks and Wildlife bestows the Leopold Conservation Award to an especially deserving land steward.

And, so we have partnered with them to provide the Leopold Conservation Award in Texas to our overall statewide winner. The Leopold Conservation Award is really our highest recognition in Lone Star Land Steward.

Eco-region award recipients and the wildlife management association recipient receive $1,000 from the Foundation; while the Leopold Conservation Award recipient receives $10,000 and the Leopold crystal award.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Lone Star Land Steward Awards Play Now | Play in Popup | Download