Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, says when it comes to our parks and the outdoors, we can hold a slew of unwarranted beliefs. One of the biggies out there is that state parks are boring—that they’re places where only retired people in RV’s go for the winter.

That is a very real stereotype out there, and we want to address that in the fact that it is completely NOT the case.

Those are sometimes the most fun of all: the wildlife that you see, the experiences…if that’s what people really think…give it a second chance…and I think they’ll come to realize and remember just how enjoyable and exciting state parks can be.

Thanks, Bryan.

Blow those myths out of the water, and start planning your next state park getaway when you log onto the Texas and Wildlife website.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

White Nose Syndrome is headed to Texas.

O6—This disease has the potential to impact over half of our North American bat species.

Mylea Bayless is a conservation biologist with Bat Conservation International, also called BCI. Little is clear about the disease, other than it’s a fungus that’s killed about a million hibernating bats, mostly in the northeast, since its discovery in NY State in 2006.

As of June 15, the disease had affected nine species of bats, in 14 states. In May, it was confirmed in Oklahoma, poised on Texas’ doorstep.

O3—So what we’re trying to do right now is to implement a surveillance plan.

John Young is a non-game mammalogist for Parks and Wildlife. He’s enlisting the help of BCI, the Texas Department of Health, Universities and others to help monitor the diseases’ progression. So far, it’s not been found in Texas.

16—We have taken a bit of a proactive stance on our wildlife management areas and some of out state parks where we’re looking at closing cave access if there’s bats present. But that won’t be all of the caves that we have because some don’t have bats, and it will only be a select number of caves.

Find detailed information about your role in limiting the spread of this disease at passporttotexas.org.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our show.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

Geomyces [gee-oh-MY-seez] destructans, also called white nose syndrome, has been killing bats in the Northeastern US since 2006.

11—White nose is this really mysterious disease, we’re still trying to figure it out. It’s brand new. It’s closely associated with a fungus that invades the bat tissues while they’re hibernating.

Mylea Bayless is a conservation biologist with Bat Conservation International. Researchers think the white fungus burrows into bats’ skin during hibernation, killing 90 to 100 percent of affected animals.

14—It seems like this fungus is disrupting their hibernation patterns and they’re waking up twice as often, and so they run out of fat twice as quickly. So, in January or February they’re out of stored fat and they simply starve to death in the caves and mines.

In May, University students in Oklahoma discovered a species of bat called cave myotis with the fungus, putting the disease on Texas’ door-step, and creating a potential threat for the 50 species of bats that live here, like the Brazilian free-tail.

21—Cave myotis very commonly roost in close association with Brazilian free-tail bats. So, I fully expect the Brazilian free-tails to become infected with the fungus very soon. What I hope will happen is that our free-tails won’t die en masse, because they don’t really hibernate for very long. Most of our free-tails migrate to Mexico.

Proactive measures to protect bat colonies in Texas—that’s tomorrow. The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our show

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas.

Each year, a species of invasive aquatic mussels called zebra mussels has crept further south toward Texas.

Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Manager Brian Van Zee says last year they found zebra mussels for the first time in Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma-Texas border.

Since that time they’ve spread pretty much throughout the entire reservoir. You can find them attached to just about any rocks or hard structures in Lake Texoma now.

Zebra mussels filter small organisms and plankton out of the water for food. So when there are millions of zebra mussels, they can make the lake look pretty clear.

Most people would say that’s kind of neat, it’s a good thing. But actually it’s harmful because it’s filtering out the phytoplankton and zooplankton out of the water column. And that zooplankton the basis of the aquatic food chain.

That means fish may not have enough food to survive. And that’s not all.

Another thing that zebra mussels do by increasing the water clarity is that it allows other invasive species such as hydrilla or something like that to grow either quicker or at deeper water levels because now you can get more sunlight.

To prevent the further spread of zebra mussels, Van Zee encourages boaters to clean their boats thoroughly each time they take them out of the water.

You can find more information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… we had research and writing help from Gretchen Mahan…the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program supports our series… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

At some point this month you’ll want to spend time indoors to cool off from the unrelenting Texas heat. When you do, you can still experience the outdoors with the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS series. Producer, Alan Fisher, talks about two segments worth watching.

In July we might take you to some new destinations outdoors, but we’ll definitely try and get you some good information. If you’re in the market for a tent, there’s and Outdoor Info about picking out the right one for you.

Now, this particular model right here, this is a two-person, three-season tent. Three-season, meaning that it’s designed for more moderate weather, and it’s got features designed to move a lot of air through the tent.

Also coming up in July, there’s a Wild Things on the Invaders—invasive species in the water and on land.

Sometimes, non-native species are introduced into an area, by someone who releases an unwanted pet, or dumps an aquarium into a local stream or lake.

The Parks and Wildlife television series airs on PBS stations around Texas, and also on a number of municipal cable channels. More information can be found online on the Texas parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show… We receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuel.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW TV: Tent Tips & Aquatic Invaders Play Now | Play in Popup | Download