Archive for April, 2014

Aquaponics: Using Fish to Grow Food

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

Aquaponic system

Aquaponic system



This is Passport to Texas

I predict the next big trend in food production – at least for small farm/commercial operations and backyard gardening enthusiasts – will be aquaponics.

05— Simply – aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics.

Monica McGarrity is an aquatic invasive species biologist and coordinates permits for exotic species. The basic premise of aquaponics is simple.

07—Waste created from the fish is used to feed the plants; and it’s typically a completely closed recirculating system.

Of course, in practice aquaponics is more involved, and there are rules, permits and fees to consider. Oh, and fish.

34—Some folks do use species that are native to Texas, including catfish and sunfish; the department does not regulate those as long as the brood fish come from an aquaculture source, not from the wild population. But when it comes to these harmful or potentially harmful species [such as tilapia], an exotic species permit may be required. The key distinction is going to be whether they’re engaging in personal aquaponics or commercial aquaponics. If they’re not selling the fish, and the fish are Mozambique tilapia, then a permit is not required.

Monica McGarrity returns tomorrow to tell us more about aquaponics in Texas.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and funds diverse conservation projects in Texas.

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

Conservation: Money for Horny Toads

Tuesday, April 15th, 2014

A  very handsome fellow: The Texas Horned Lizard

A very handsome fellow: The Texas Horned Lizard



This is Passport to Texas

For Texans of a certain age, horned lizards were a common sight; not anymore. Luckily, money raised from the sale of horned lizard conservation license plates provides funds to study this enigmatic species.

06— We have funded conservation projects on Texas horned lizards. One of those is with the Fort Worth Zoo.

Michael Warriner is non-game program supervisor with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

18—Fort Worth Zoo has an active captive breeding program, and they’re working at reintroducing Texas horned lizards back to areas where they used to occur. And we’ve supported that effort in terms of supplies, personnel, and helping them facilitate that reintroduction of horned lizards.

Warriner says monies from the plate also fund a project by Texas Tech that studies horned lizard habitat use.

07—So we can understand what sorts of habitat they prefer, and how can we manage habitat to better support their populations.

Development has reduced historic horned lizard habitat.

10—There may be other factors preventing them from reestablishing, but we try and determine what’s the best quality habitat [currently available] and reintroduce them to those areas.

Find information about the horned lizard and other conservation plates at conservationplate.org.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and funds diverse conservation projects in Texas.

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

Wildlife: Texas Conservation License Plates

Monday, April 14th, 2014

Horned Lizard Conservation Plate

Horned Lizard Conservation Plate



This is Passport to Texas

How many times have you seen a Texas license plate with a drawing of a horned lizard on it and wondered what it meant.

09— The horned lizard license plate is a critical source of funding that helps us do a lot of work on non-game animals.

Twenty-two dollars of the $30 cost of the plate funds non-game study. Michael Warriner is non-game program supervisor with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

13—If you think about it, most wildlife in Texas is non-game. So, these are the species that are helping to shape Texas ecosystems; and helping to support populations of animals that we do hunt.

Compared to funding for game species, monies for studying these “less loved” species are not as robust. Moreover, it’s not just about studying VICs – very important critters.

10—It also enables us to do work on native plants, and also to fund educational programs regarding non-game and Texas habitats.

Tomorrow: we find out how sales of the horned lizard license plate are helping…well…the horned lizard.

That’s our show for today…Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

TPW Magazine: Best of Texas Photography

Friday, April 11th, 2014

Angler and redfish, image by Tosh Brown in the April issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

Angler and redfish, image by Tosh Brown in the April issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.



This is Passport to Texas

The photography in Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine is world class, and April’s issue focuses on the best of the best. Deciding what those would be was no easy task.

08— The process was tough. We have such amazing photographers; staff photographers as well as freelance photographers.

Art Director, Brandon Jakobeit (yah-ko-BITE), says he asked regular photo contributors to submit their favorites, and from there, the work began.

10—I printed every single image out – small. Then I cut them out, and kept editing the groups down until I got down to the final grouping that were going to go into the magazine.

He ended up with 16 spectacular photographs of Texas’ places, people, and activities. One image even caught him by surprise.

13—It was Dan Klepper’s image. It was this mountain biking image, and in the very front, looking at you at the bottom, is a horned lizard. So, that one was very surprising, and I thought it was a very neat image.

Brandon says none of the images were built in Photoshop.

17—Some of these guys use amazing techniques – like Tosh Brown’s image. You see this shot of a redfish –I’m not sure exactly how he did it—but I know that he partially submerged the camera, so you can see this redfish that was caught, but you can also see the guy fishing above water.

The April issue with the Best of Texas Photography is on newsstands now. That’s our show for today…Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Wildlife: Legality of Helping Wildlife

Thursday, April 10th, 2014

South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Lubbock, TX.

South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Lubbock, TX.



This is Passport to Texas

You know the story of spring: reawakening, renewal, and baby animals. That last part – baby animals – can be tricky. You see, sometimes we find infant wildlife when we’re outdoors, and want to “rescue” them, which might actually be more like kidnapping.

08—For example, a baby dear [or fawn] will hide quiet and mama will almost always come back. That’s their strategy.

See what I mean. Jonah Evans is a mammalogist at Texas Parks and Wildlife; he says unless an animal is injured or clearly in distress, leave it alone, but monitor it at a safe distance if you’re concerned. Even then…

06— I recommend, before touching an animal, call a rehabilitator and ask them.

Licensed rehabilitators know animal behavior and can provide guidance, which may also include instructions to leave the animal alone because of legal considerations.

12—There are actually some regulations about possessing certain wildlife that you have to make sure you’re not violating. Possessing a non-game animal without a license, could be in violation of certain laws.

That can be avoided when you know who to call. Find a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators—by county—on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and funds diverse conservation projects in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.