Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Before you sell seashells by the seashore, you first have to find them. Surprisingly, summer beachcombing may not yield the results you desire.

I feel the best time to go shelling is in the wintertime.

Paul Hammerschmidt, with coastal fisheries, is a lifelong and—admittedly obsessive—shell collector. He says winter storms churn up the Gulf bottom, sending marine critters and their calciferous containment onto the beach. To improve your chances of finding a variety of intact shells, Hammerschmidt says stay clear of crowded beaches.

If you get a chance to go to some more isolated beaches, like down on Padres island, or something like that, where the population of humans is not quite so thick, you’ll have a much better chance of finding some really unusual shells.

Such as a pretty little shell called baby ears—which looks like…well…baby ears. Or, there’s another special shell worth searching for called spirula.

And it’s a coiled, snail-like shell. But it doesn’t belong to a snail—it belongs to a little squid. And it’s inside the squid, and when the squid dies, that little thing has a lot of chambers in it with gas, and it floats and washes up on the beach. Those are very pretty, bright white, and they’re very fragile, so you have to be careful with them.

This winter, instead of heading to the slopes for skiing, head to the beach for shelling…you can still have hot cocoa when you’re done.

That’s our show for today….remember: life’s better outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Information on Shell Collecting

Shell Clubs:
http://www.bcfas.org/museum/SSSBC/SSSBCdemo/ShellClubs.html
Shell Organizations:
http://www.bcfas.org/museum/SSSBC/SSSBCdemo/ShellOrgs.html
Images of shells of the Bolivar Peninsula:
http://www.crystalbeach.com/b17.html

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Nobody thinks twice about collecting shells from the beach. But I started to wonder if it’s really okay since beaches are public land.

It’s okay to collect shells. The ones that are broken and come apart, they create the sand that’s out there, but there is no law against it [collecting].

Paul Hammerschmidt, with coastal fisheries, is a lifelong shell collector. He says collect responsibly to avoid creating problems for the environment or marine animals.

I highly recommend that you only take shells that are from dead animals—not live animals.

How can you determine if something is still alive? In the case of the popular sand dollar, small spines cover the shells of living animals…so look for smooth, spineless shells. If, like me, you’ve never found a sand dollar on the beach—there’s good reason for it.

I think it’s because everybody wants to get a sand dollar. And, too, they’re another very fragile shell. And when the waves are strong, they’ll get broken up, and you’ll just see fragments of them. A lot of times, the best time to find a sand dollar, is after a storm—and then very early in the morning—before anybody else gets out on the beach.

More tips on when and where to go shelling tomorrow. Continue this story online at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today….remember: life’s better outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
__________________________________________________________________

Information on Shell Collecting

Shell Clubs:
http://www.bcfas.org/museum/SSSBC/SSSBCdemo/ShellClubs.html
Shell Organizations:
http://www.bcfas.org/museum/SSSBC/SSSBCdemo/ShellOrgs.html
Images of shells of the Bolivar Peninsula:
http://www.crystalbeach.com/b17.html

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Are you looking for a unique way to spend time in the Texas outdoors and get active in your local community?

Master Naturalist is a fantastic way for people who are interested in the natural history of Texas to learn more about wildlife, plants, and geology of their local area.

Kelly Bender is an Urban Wildlife Biologist for Parks and Wildlife, and helps train Master Naturalists.

So what we do is we provide a nine-week program, that’s provided by professionals in the field, to learn all about the natural history of their area. And then give them opportunities to participate in volunteer activity.

Volunteer opportunities that include helping scientists.

They have the opportunities to monitor wildlife and record species observations and provide those to scientists. We do native plant rescue. They have the opportunity to do habitat restoration in ecologically sensitive areas. Master naturalists are able to go in and help restore in places that have restricted access. So we really are dependent on people who are interested and who are engaged and excited about wildlife to provide more information than we could possibly gather on our own.

One of the great gifts we can provide future generations is a natural world, preserved in its wild beauty. Become a part of it. Learn how, at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Protecting Texas’ vast habitat and wildlife resources requires effort from all Texans.

Well, as a state agency, we are constrained by our budget, and so we can’t possibly put as many eyes in the sky and boots on the ground as we need.

Kelley Bender, a parks and wildlife Urban Biologist in Central Texas, encourages folks to learn about and conserve resources by becoming a Master Naturalist.

The Texas Master Naturalist Program is a really exciting way for people to get involved in nature and wildlife in the state of Texas. There’s a nine-week course that’s provided by professionals in the field, where they get training that includes classroom training as well as field trips. And then we ask for a commitment back to provide 40 hours of volunteer service a year.

Master Naturalist training prepares you to be a leader in community-based conservation efforts.

Most chapters offer a get-to-know you class where they introduce all the topics that are going to be discussed. They also talk about what the commitment is and what will be expected of the students as well as what will be expected of the program. And all people are welcome and invited to join. We ask that people be 18 years and over.

Find the Texas Master Naturalist chapter nearest you at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

After spending the summer indoors in self-imposed air-conditioned exile, the arrival of fall and the promise of cooler temperatures, are sure to beckon you outside again. Going on a hike in a state park is a simple and enjoyable way to reengage the great outdoors.

Many state parks have more than one trail from which to choose, offering varying levels of difficulty. If the park you are visiting is new to you, consider taking a guided tour to familiarize yourself with the terrain.

A hike is not a race. So, slow down and take time to appreciate your surroundings. State park trails are as varied as the parks they’re in. Some follow streams or take you into the woods, or onto rocky ledges, they are shaded or sun-drenched…. Be on the lookout for wildlife.

When hiking, dress for the weather. Always wear comfortable shoes and protective footwear. Use a hat and sunscreen to save your skin. Insect repellent is always a good call when hiking in heavily wooded and wet areas. And don’t forget to bring water. Experts recommend you have eight ounces of water with you for every hour you plan to be on the trail.

Find details about hiking and state parks at passportotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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