Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

This father’s day, make a memory. Gather the kids and celebrate outside.

10—One of the things that I remember from my childhood is having the opportunity to fish with my dad. And it’s just such a quiet, special time. I mean, I can still visually see everything that we did back then.

Ernie Gammage is former director of outreach and urban development at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

19—You know, if I had the chance to go to a movie or go to a theme park with my dad on Father’s Day, I believe I would choose going outside because you never know what’s going to happen outside. It’s the wide open spaces, and a lot of the distractions of the work-day world, family obligations, and so forth are put aside and it’s just you and somebody that you love, somebody that you respect.

While there may be a generation gap between parents and children, nature brings together all ages.

20—I think spending time outdoors with your son or your daughter, or whoever it is, is an opportunity, especially for fathers that already spend time in the outdoors, to pass on some of the things they love and value to their kids. You know, it’s one thing to talk about how to run a computer, and video game, and stuff, but sometimes there’s just no connection. The outdoors tends to be the great equalizer, I think, in that regard.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuels.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Are you considering a coastal getaway with the family this summer, but wondering where to go? This month the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television PBS series takes you to an island retreat that offers recreation and relaxation for the whole family. Producer Abe Moore.

57—[:02 ocean ambiance] As a producer and a dad, I’m always looking for stories or places where it’s kid friendly, or something great for the family. And Mustang Island [State Park], it’s just a great place for kids, and then as a parent, you can kind of just hang out.

So that story’s going to be on Texas Parks and Wildlife television in the fourth week of June. Enjoy! [:02 ocean ambiance fades]

Thanks, Abe.

Check your local listings.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

With more alligators spotted by the public in residential areas, you might think you’d be better off selling your home. Greg Creacy says there’s no need to panic.

10—We’re just trying to help people put it in perspective. People will begin to see more and more alligators in the future and not every alligator is going to be a problem.

Creacy is a wildlife biologist with Parks and Wildlife. He says horror movies and attacks by the more dangerous, and non-native crocodiles have caused people to fear Texas alligators.

16—The number of attacks by alligators in the US each year is less than injuries and fatalities from dogs, scorpions, snakes and sharks…all of those are much more dangerous to people than alligators.

So what do you do if you see an alligator? Respect the animal, and keep a safe distance between the two of you. Also, keep pets away from gators, or they could become a snack. Don’t swim in an area where there are alligators…and don’t feed them.

05—Because people have fed that alligator they’ve broken down their natural fear that alligator has for people.

Find information on living with alligators, research reports, and basic natural history, on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.

That’s our show for today…we receive support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuels.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Residents of Florida manage to live with alligators and have for years, but it’s new to Texans who haven’t yet gotten used to the increasing presence of the large reptiles here.

10—We’re trying to educate people and teach them about the American alligator, its habits, its behaviors, and exactly what to expect from these creatures.

Wildlife biologist Greg Creacy says when you go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website you’ll find information on living with alligators. He says that while only a very small fraction of alligators pose a threat to humans, there is a common belief that all gators are dangerous.

10—They’ve seen a lot of television and other things that have led them to believe that alligators are man-eaters and are a risk to people.

And just because you see an alligator doesn’t mean it’s a problem. He offers a couple of guidelines on what would be considered a “nuisance” alligator.

08—Has it retained its natural fear of people? Also, if an alligator is coming up out of the water and spending time in someone’s yard.

Coming up on tomorrow’s show, would you know what to do if you saw an alligator?

03—Just because they see it, they don’t need to panic.

That’s our show for today…we receive support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuels.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Alligators have always been a part of the Texas wildlife. Once considered endangered, their numbers have steadily increased. But in the surrounding counties of Houston, alligators have thrived.

07—The alligators are re-populating their former range, where they occurred several decades ago.

But Parks and Wildlife biologist Greg Creacy says just as the reptile’s numbers have increased in the area, so has the human population, as more neighborhoods go up near alligator habitat. Over the past few years, alligator complaints have been on the rise. More than half of the calls came from Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Harris, and Liberty counties.

14—This is a relatively new thing for Texans, they aren’t used to it. They are living in close proximity to these alligators and over time I think Texans will begin to appreciate this animals as part of our natural heritage.

Coming up on tomorrow’s show, helping bridge the gap between man and beast…

09—We’re trying to educate people about what it would take to live with alligators and understand the things you can and can’t do around these animals.

That’s our show for today…we receive support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuels.

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

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