Passport to Texas

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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This is Passport to Texas

Looking to reach new heights in your state park experience? You will do just that when you visit Sheldon Lake State Park. Our State park guide, Bryan Frazier explains.

56—it’s right in east Houston. And you have this oasis of nature preserve with an environmental learning center. There’s great fishing. There’s a 12-hundred acre reservoir, and it’s all on the part property, but the real news here lately is we’ve got a new observation tower. Great for birding and great just to see the views. You can see all the way down to San Jacinto Monument in one direction, and all the way to the Houston downtown skyline in the other. And you’ve got a good view of the 400 acre preserved prairieland that we have there. But this was something funded with donations—all of it was. So, no state dollars, no tax dollars were used in the construction of this. And that’s something that’s very important with the economy that we’re in. We’re able to provide this service and this unique perspective of Houston and further encourage the things that are popular there, with something from donations. And that is the John Jacob observation tower, which is having its grand opening this month at Sheldon Lake State Park.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet…building dependable, reliable trucks for more than 90 years.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Fishing doesn’t have to be an expensive sport. In fact, it’s once of the most economical activities you and your family can enjoy together. And this Saturday, it just got better, because this Saturday is Free Fishing Day!

04—You will not need a license in order to fish anywhere in our public waters.

Ann Miller oversees the Aquatic Education program at Parks and Wildlife. Free Fishing day is the cornerstone event of National Fishing and Boating Week. And while it is free, Miller reminds us that it is not a free-for-all.

09—Actually you will have to abide by the same rules and regulations as any other fishing day you just will not have to have a license in order to fish.

You don’t have your own fishing gear? That’s not a problem. You don’t need to own a rod and reel to fish during this free fishing event. Ms. Miller explains.

17—We do have a tackle loaner program so that people can actually borrow equipment. The tackle loaner sites are also on our website, so that you can look up…just put in tackle loaner in the search…and they’ll give you the nearest location where you can go borrow equipment to go fishing.

Find additional information about fishing in Texas and free fishing day on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series…reminding listeners that June fourth is Free Fishing Day in Texas .

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

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This is Passport to Texas

During extended periods of drought, when the risk of wildfires is highest, your plant choices and their
placement in the landscape could make your home vulnerable to fire damage.

While we do want to encourage the use of shrubs and brush around the home, we don’t want to encourage it right up against the home. Especially things that are extremely flammable…

Such as yaupon holly and cedar. Marks Klym coordinates the Texas Wildscapes program for Parks and Wildlife. In cooperation with the Texas Forest Service’s Firewise program, Klym’s program endeavors to educate homeowners about plant choices that are hot, but not readily flammable.

Something that’s got a higher water content. Things that don’t tend to take fire from the ground towards the roof, because the roof is a sensitive area in most homes. Things that don’t take fire from the ground up into your window frames, which is another very sensitive area. You want to avoid our tall native grasses, because they have a tendency to dry out and become a firebox. Certainly, the other thing you can do is use that area for your hardscapes. Things like rock walls…walkways. These become a good barrier that the firs has difficulty jumping, unless you’ve got forty mile an hour winds.

We have the link to the Texas Fire-wise website, at passporttotexas.org.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Playa lakes, which form in shallow depressions in the earth, are common in the High Plains of Texas, but are uncommon as water bodies go.

Well, with a playa lake, when a drop of water falls, it goes into the middle of the lake basin and that’s where it stays. This water may work its way down into the Ogallala Aquifer, or it may evaporate, but each playa lake is the lowest point in its own watershed.

Bill Johnson, is a waterfowl and wetlands biologist in Canyon, Texas, and says the water you see in the playa today, may not be there in a few months’ time.

Playas tend to go wet and dry. And there’s nothing wrong at all with a dry playa. We’re a semi-arid region, and our evaporation rate is much, much higher than our rainfall rate.

In fact, if a playa were wet all the time, says Johnson, it would not be nearly as important to waterfowl.

When a playa goes dry, it causes the germination and growth of moist soil plants. These plants are generally annual plants—such as the smart weed, or barnyard grass. Now these plants are very productive, and they produce the seeds that ducks eat. If these playas didn’t dry up, then they would have an entirely different pant community that wouldn’t be as productive—they just wouldn’t produce as much food.

Information about playas is at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program.

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

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