Passport to Texas

Map of Bumblebees’ Historic Range in Texas

Wildlife: Bumblebee Watching Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Do you like the idea of bird watching, but don’t have the time or patience to learn about every bird out there? Maybe you should try bumblebee watching, instead.

12— Bumblebees could be a new kind of hobby for folks. Birdwatchers have to learn hundreds of birds. There are only nine bumblebees [species] in Texas. And so it’s just a matter of learning their color patterns.

Michael Warriner is an invertebrate biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, and curates the website texasbumblebees.com.

18— In Texas, we have nine bumblebee species. And, fortunately, bumblebees are large bees; they’re pretty noticeable because they have a pattern of black and yellow. But, each one of the nine differs a little bit in terms of how much yellow they have on – let’s say – on the front part of their body versus the rear….

More than a pleasant hobby, tracking these insects – and reporting back to biologists like Michael Warriner – can provide needed information about the status of bumblebees in Texas. What you may not know is …these native bees are facing threats.

16—They’ve lost habitat. Pesticide use is another concern. And also, there’s been the importation of bumblebees from Europe into this country, which has brought in parasites and diseases that may be impacting them. So, there’s a lot of concern how they’re faring in North America.

Find a chart on bumblebee identification and where to report your sightings, when you visit Michael Warriner’s website: Texasbumblebees.com.

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

Courtesy Jessica Womack, via www.texasbumblebees.com

Wildlife: Texas Bumblebee Bye-bye Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

[SFX—buzzing]

Bumblebees are the bomb—or per their genus: bombus. Texas has nine native species of this big, slow-flying, black and yellow insect. They’re effective pollinators of our native plant species, and many food crops, too.

But as summer wanes, so do the bumblebees.

18— At the end of the summer, the queen that started the colony gives birth to new queens. The old queen dies and all her workers die. But the new queens mate, find a hole in the ground, spend the winter there, come back out in the spring, and she starts a whole new colony.

That’s a lot of work for one bee…Michael Warriner… an invertebrate biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife… tells us how she does it.

36— In early spring—February and March—the new queen comes out, and she’s foraging. [She] finds a nest site, and she starts making what’s called a “honey pot.” It’s a little waxen thimble, and she fills that with food. Then she accumulates pollen and makes a big pollen ball. Then she lays eggs, and she stays there [tending to the nest and larvae tht hatch]. And those are her first workers. Once her first worker daughters mature, she stays there [in the nest] full time—her main business is laying eggs. But, getting started is pretty much all on her: getting all the food and having the reserves to stay put and raise that first batch [of young].

Learn more about Texas Bumblebees at Michael Warriner’s website: Texasbumblebees.com.

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

Pronghorn Antelope Running

Hunting/Angling: Buy Licenses Early Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hunters and anglers look forward to the day licenses go on sale the way many children look forward to Christmas. Hunting and fishing licenses bring with them the hope of a harvest and the promise of time spent in the great Texas outdoors.

Licenses for the 2012-2013 seasons go on sale statewide this month.

17 – I would advise folks to buy early. The new season, dove season, opens September first. It’s on a Saturday. I think it would be a very good idea for hunters to start buying their licenses and their super combos as soon as our sales season opens, which is August fifteenth.

Tom Newton manages licensing at Texas Parks and Wildlife. You can buy your licenses online…at 17-hundred retailers statewide…at state parks…game warden offices and the Texas Parks and Wildlife headquarters in Austin.

Newton says sales this year started in the hole because of last year’s drought and heat, but because of milder temperatures and statewide rain, we’ve almost caught up to last year’s sales and may catch up by year’s end. And that’s good news for conservation.

Money spent on licenses directly supports conservation efforts in Texas. There’s more than one type of hunting license – they range from a $7 resident senior license to a $315 license for nonresident hunters.

Find links to hunting information at passporttotexas.org.

The Wildlife and Sport fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, shooting and hunting opportunities in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Hunting/Angling: Licenses go on Sale Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

It’s August: time to renew hunting and fishing licenses.

06—The licenses are effective beginning September first, but they actually go on sale August 15th.

Tom Newton manages licensing at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Heat and drought kept license sales down last year, but the milder temperatures and statewide rains in 2012 have seen sales rise.

23 –The fishing is broken down into saltwater or freshwater, or what we call an all-water, which covers both. There’s a couple of different hunting licenses, which is your standard deer hunters, or turkey hunters, or alligator hunters. With the hunting license you have to purchase a couple of stamps. If you’re a bird hunter you’ll need the upland game bird stamp and the federal duck stamp.

The best license to buy — if you plan on hunting and fishing — is the Super Combo. $68.00

17 – Which encompasses everything: All the stamps, all of your hunting options, all of your fishing options. The only thing you need in addition to that is your federal duck stamp. So, the Super Combo –– is the best priced license. And, like I say, you buy that, you need nothing else for the whole year.

Buy your licenses early and avoid the rush. They’re available online and at 17-hundred agents statewide.

06 –All of our parks sell licenses. All of our law enforcement sells licenses as we do here at Headquarters

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series, and works to increase fishing and hunting opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Caprock Canyons Superintendent Donald Beard with Bison Cut-out

State Parks: Caprock's Bison Celebration Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Eighty descendents of the southern plains bison roam freely on 700 acres at Caprock Canyon SP…with plans to give them even more room to roam in the future. To celebrate these majestic animals and to raise money for their continued restoration, Caprock Canyons SP is throwing a party. Our State park Guide Bryan Frazier has details.

54— Beginning September 14th, they’re going to have the Bison celebration days on that Friday. They’re having school groups from all over the region come in and learn about the native Americans, and learn about the impact of the Buffalo Soldiers on the settlement of that region. And then on Saturday, there’ll be opportunities to photograph the free roaming bison walking around, there’ll be other activities, vendors, and lots of things going on during that Saturday to bring everyone out. And then on Sunday, there’s a concert that benefits Caprock Canyons and the bison restoration, and it’s going to be done by nine time Grammy award winning, and Texas legendary band – Asleep at the Wheel. And that’s on Sunday, September 16th at Caprock Canyon SP, as part of the second annual bison celebration days going on there. If you’re a Texan….if you’re a history buff…if you like Asleep at the Wheel and good music..and incredible scenery…this is the place.

Thanks Bryan

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.