Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

[Call of the Houston toad]

That sound is the Houston toad. And it’s become a very rare sound over the past two decades. Years of drought and habitat destruction have diminished the Houston toad population to only a few hundred.

Michael Forstner is a professor at Texas State University. And through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Landowner Incentive Program (L.I.P.), he’s working with private landowners in Bastrop County to restore habitat for the Houston toad.

Most of the people in Bastrop want to live in Bastrop County because it looks a certain way. And if it keeps looking like the lost pines, we keep the toad.

So what do these “lost pines” look like?

Imagine a cathedral forest. Most of the habitat that we find Houston toads doing the best in, whatever that means for its current levels, are gallery forests. Those are the forests that you see in the images for computer desktop wallpapers. Those are large-trunked trees with open space beneath them.

By planting the fast-growing loblolly pine trees, a habitat can be restored in about twenty years.

So if current efforts are successful, Forstner says the Houston toad population could make a comeback.

The best thing about the Houston toad is they make 6,000 eggs at a time. Those babies just need a place to grow up.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Gretchen Mahan. You can find more information on passporttotexas.org. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

You’re hiking in a state park, and spy something unusual on the side of the trail. You stop to get a closer look, and discover a very old knife. The temptation may be to scoop it up and give it a place of honor on your fireplace mantel. But, Margaret Howard says — that would be illegal.

There’s a particular state law that protects the archeology, and it’s called the Antiquities Code. And it really does protect every single item in our parks that is greater than fifty years old.

Howard is the archeology survey team leader at Parks and Wildlife. Artifacts found in state parks help tell the story of how the land was used, and by whom.

We like to say that these objects belong to all Texans, not any particular Texan. And I think most people would feel bad if they thought that they had taken something that was part of a story and put it on their mantel where it just becomes an object, and its tale is lost.

If you were to find an artifact in a state park, leave it where you found it; it could be part of a known story, or a new story.

And try to alert park personnel and then have them come back. They can make a record of it that we can add to the record we have. If it’s something that we already know about, it expands what we know. And there is, as you said, the chance of discovering something new. But it’s critically important where it was found. And the temptation is to pick something up, and look at it and carry it back.

Learn more about Texas antiquities on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

When Texas State Parks new website débuts later this fall, it will have virtual tours, videos of state parks, new images, and a chance to get up to the minute information about parks using social media.

They’re going to be able to sign up for Twitter updates. As most of you know Twitter now has become very commonplace. But, it’s going to allow them to, for example, find out when there might be fall foliage at Lost Maples SP. They’ll get a Twitter alert.

Marketing Director, Darcy Bontempo, says Twitter isn’t the only social media application the new state parks website will employ to keep visitors connected.

They also can go and look at the Facebook page for a park and see, for example, what other visitors have experienced at the park…user comments…also look at photos and videos from park visitors who have been there post. So, that’s a neat way, also to explore what a park’s about before you’ve even had a chance to go there.

Incorporating social media into the new website makes sense.

This is the way of the future, and people want to see what other people are saying. This is not a new discovery on our part—this is just us keeping up with the wave, and we are very excited about it. And people are going to possibly even reconnect based on Facebook. I mean, there are all kinds of opportunities to connect or discover things that they didn’t know about the park, because users are the ones sharing experiences or discoveries.

The new State Parks website goes live this fall.

That’s our show… remember…Life’s better outside…for Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texas state parks are exciting and diverse; they’re where visitors engage nature and discover Texas’ past. Too bad the website that told our parks’ stories fell flat.

Visitors told us, and Texans told us, that when they went to our website they didn’t see as many photographs and images and [as much] information as they’d like.

Marketing Director, Darcy Bontempo, says the agency took these concerns to heart, and later this fall, will unveil a redesigned and reenergized site.

Really, we’re listening to our customers. They wanted to have a much more visually appealing and informative site. So that’s why we’re making this change.

The new image and content rich website will give visitors an opportunity to engage Texas state parks online in a way never before possible.

When people visit the new state parks website they’re going to be very delighted, I think, to discover a wealth of beautiful photographs of facilities of the parks, cabins, things to do at parks. They’re also going to be able to look at virtual tours. So, they’re going to be able to get a better idea of what kind of facilities are at parks. We also have a lot of videos, so they’re going to be able to watch short videos that tell them about history or about what they can do.

You might even hear a Passport to Texas podcast or two on the on the new state park website when it debuts later in the fall.

That’s our show… remember…Life’s better outside…for Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

With the arrival of cooler fall weather, you may be inspired to get outside and stretch your legs. Hiking is a simple low cost way to engage the out of doors.

State parks offer a variety of trails no matter what your skill level or interest. The seasoned hiker may opt for a challenging rocky trail, whereas a beginner or family may prefer something a relaxing winding pathway.

Most of parks have multiple trails to explore. Take a guided tour to become familiar with the locale and nature.

While on your hike, be sure to notice your surroundings. Many trails parallel streams, or are in wooded areas that attract wildlife.

When hiking, be sure to dress accordingly for weather and exercise. Always wear comfortable shoes and protective footwear. A hat, as well as sunscreen, should be used for protection from outdoor elements. Insect repellent might be helpful in heavily wooded areas. Most importantly, bring along a bottle of water on your journey.

Details about hiking and state parks can be found on the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.

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

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