Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

To experience nature and wildlife few things are better than time spent on a hiking trail…unless you’re taking the trail on horseback.

Our SP guide, Bryan Frazier explains.

Part of the plan for a lot of our state parks is to include equestrian trails where possible, and we have several state parks that have them, and are adding on to them. Whether you’re talking about Caprock Canyons or Fort Richardson, where you can bring your own mount, or Hill Country State Natural Area—they’ve got more than 40 miles or trails. We have several parks where we have outfitters—you can rent horses there…like lake Livingston, and Huntsville and Big Bend Ranch State Park and Palo Duro Canyon. And so there’s lots of different ways to see that. But it’s an ever increasing popular thing to see state parks on horseback on one of the many trails that we have—miles and miles that we have and miles and miles that we’re adding on as well.

Thanks Bryan.

Imagine riding your horse to a nearby lake or river, with your fishing gear in the saddlebag. While your steed grazes nearby, you fish from shore. And if you’re at a state park—fishing is free. Saddle up.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

If you’re already in the habit of admiring migrating monarchs, then consider taking part in a citizen science project called Texas Monarch Watch.

11—People can get involved with that by reporting their sightings. And they can go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife department website. Go under Texas Nature Trackers—and there’s a whole page with lots of information about it.

Michael Warriner, an invertebrate biologist at Parks and Wildlife, says there’s also a national Monarch Watch program that’s more hands on.

22—They want people to basically tag monarchs. You can order a tagging kit. And as you see monarchs, you can capture them with a butterfly net, and take one of these little tags and place it on the wing—there’s instructions and everything. What they’re trying to do is track where the monarchs were tagged and then when they come back, to kind of get an idea of how long the migration was and how long these things live.

Monarchwatch.org has more information and tagging kits. Warriner advises when catching monarchs or any butterfly to grasp only the outer edge of the front wing.

06—Because the wings are covered in scales, and if they lose those scales it would maybe become harder to fly and so on.

They need those scales to make that long migration. Visit passporttotexas.org for links to more monarch information, as well as tips on what to plant in your garden to attract these winged travelers.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Texans are in for a treat this month and next because monarch butterflies are on the move.

14—Yeah, monarchs, in the insect world, have the longest migration. Basically, they spend the winter down in Mexico, and they come up to the US, spend their summer up here, feeding, laying eggs, and then they go back to Mexico.

Michael Warriner is an invertebrate biologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife. He says monarchs that head north in springtime are not the same monarchs that return to Mexico in the fall.

13—The Monarch that comes from Mexico, pretty much ends its life in Texas. It comes here, it lays its eggs, and the next generation is the one that moves further north

It’s only a few weeks from egg to butterfly, and you might be surprised by the number of generations it takes to complete this lengthy migration.

14—Oh, wow. You could probably have anywhere from three to six generations. So, the ones that come up from Mexico to Texas, it’s probably their great, great, great grandchildren that are coming back down at the end of the summer.

Tomorrow we talk about a citizen science project called Monarch Watch.

04—people can get involved in that by reporting their sightings.

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

At less than 300 acres, Palmetto State Park might not be the biggest site in the park system, but if you like wildlife viewing you’ll find wood ducks, raccoons, red eared sliders, eastern bluebirds, fox squirrels, and horned lizards, to name a few.

And as our State Park guide, Bryan Frazier tell us, trail improvements in the park will get you up close and personal with all of them.

31—it’s SE of the Austin area, near Luling and Gonzales. And they have almost doubled their trail system—and it isn’t just little pathway trails; we’re talking about extra wide, five or six wide, caliche based trails and boardwalks. They’ve got plans for wayside interpretive panels all along there. And it’s really some of the nicest trails that we have in our state park system. And so, not only is it in response to customer demand, but its something that we’re proud to showcase as well…that, here’s dollars being used for purposes that people have wanted.

Thanks Bryan.

The park abuts the San Marcos River. So take a break from your hike to cast a line into the water and reel in a channel catfish or largemouth bass, because you can fish free in state parks.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Carter Smith issued an executive order last month giving authority to close caves on Parks and Wildlife property to protect bats from the spread of White Nose Syndrome.

03—White Nose is this really mysterious disease.

Mylea (MUH-lee-uh) Bayless is a conservation biologist with Bat Conservation International. White Nose—or geomyces (GEO-mice-eez) destructans—is fatal to bats and named for a white fungus found on the muzzles and wings of infected bats.

07—It’s killing up to 90 to 100 percent of the bats when it hits hibernacula, which is a cave or mine where the bats hibernate.

Though bats can spread the disease among themselves, humans coming from infected bat caves and roosts can also transport the fungus. So cavers will need to decontaminate all clothing and gear before going from one site to the next.

23—And it’s not going to be easy. Some of these decontamination protocols require a little bit of effort. But, if we’re not cleaning our gear as we move from site to site for this reason, what is the next bacteria or fungus that’s going to be coming our way? So I think that clean gear is just good ethics, whether or not it’s for white nose syndrome, I think it’s just a good pattern for us to get into.

Find decontamination information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… we receive support from the Wildlife Restoration program…providing funding for habitat conservation in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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White-Nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocol (v.3)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Draft 7.31.2010

The USFWS strongly recommends compliance with all cave closures, advisories, and regulations in all Federal, State, tribal, and private lands. By disregarding this recommendation, you could potentially promote the transmission of the fungus Geomyces destructans (G.d.), likely the causative agent for white-nose syndrome (WNS), which is responsible for significant bat mortality in eastern North America. Should you choose to disregard this recommendation, the following protocol outlines the best known procedures to help reduce the spread of the fungus.

You should not handle bats.

If you observe live or dead bats (5 or more individuals in a single location) that may exhibit signs of WNS, contact a wildlife professional in your state wildlife agency (http://www.fws.gov/offices/statelinks.html) or contact your nearest USFWS Ecological Services Field Office (http://www.fws.gov/offices/).

Researchers, contact your state or federal agency for permitting requirements.

RECOMMENDED DECONTAMINATION PRODUCTS: The following chemical products were tested in a laboratory setting and were found to be particularly effective against killing the more resistant, spore-form of G.d., as well as the hyphae.

1. Lysol® IC Quaternary Disinfectant Cleaner (0.3% quaternary ammonium compound minimum) – 1 part concentrate to 128 parts water or 1 ounce of concentrate per gallon of water;
2. Lysol® All-purpose Professional Cleaner (0.3% quaternary ammonium compound minimum);
3. Formula 409® Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner (0.3% quaternary ammonium compound minimum);
4. A 10% solution of household bleach – 1 part bleach to 9 parts water (an estimate of 1:9 is insufficient);
5. Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes; or
6. Boil submersible gear in water for 15 minutes

BEFORE CAVING: In order to effectively reduce the risk of human transfer of G.d., it is imperative that you follow these decontamination procedures any time you plan cave visits, and under no circumstances should clothing, footwear or gear that was used in a WNS-affected state or region be used in a non-affected state. If gear cannot be thoroughly decontaminated or disposed of, we advise that you not enter caves or parts of caves requiring use of this gear. If gear can be thoroughly decontaminated and you must enter a cave, isolate and decontaminate these items after last exiting a cave. Gear should not be used in multiple caves in the same day unless the decontamination procedures below can be performed between each cave visit.

AFTER EACH CAVE VISIT: Thoroughly scrape or brush off any dirt and mud from clothing, boots, and gear and then place them in a sealed plastic bag or plastic container with lid to be cleaned and disinfected off site. Outer clothing should be removed prior to entering a vehicle after/between a site visit. A clean change of clothing is recommended. To decontaminate clothing, footwear and gear, please follow the procedures listed below.

For Submersible Gear (i.e. clothing and equipment that can be submerged without damage):
Wash all clothing and any appropriate equipment in washing machine or by hand using conventional detergents. Use cold, warm, or hot water. Woolite® fabric wash has been found to be highly effective for this procedure. Rinse thoroughly, and then follow by soaking for a minimum of 10 minutes in one of the decontaminating products above, then rinse and air dry. As an alternative to chemical products, boiling
submersible gear at a fast boil for 15 minutes is also recommended, followed by air drying.

For Non-submersible Gear (i.e. equipment that will be damaged by submersion):
Clean thoroughly with soap and water, and then decontaminate by applying one of the recommended products above to the outside surface for a minimum of 10 minutes, then rinse and air dry.

For Footwear:
Where possible, rubber (wellington-type) caving boots (which withstand harsh decontaminating products and are easily cleaned) are recommended. Boots need to be fully scrubbed and rinsed to remove all soil and organic material. Decontaminate rubber and leather boots, (including soles and leather uppers) with a product listed above for a minimum of 10 minutes, then rinse and air dry.

For Ropes and Harnesses:
To date, only Sterling rope and webbing have proved to sustain no damage when using products above. Wash rope/webbing in a front loading washing machine on the gentle cycle using Woolite® Extra Delicates detergent. Immerse in a dilution of Lysol IC Quaternary Disinfectant Cleaner for 15 minutes. Rinse twice in clean water and air dry. Brands of rope/webbing other than Sterling have not yet been
tested for integrity after decontamination. Brands not tested should be dedicated to a single cave or not used at all.

For Cameras and Electronic Equipment:
If possible, do not bring electronic equipment into a cave. If practical, cameras and other similar equipment that must be brought to a cave may be placed in plastic casing (i.e. underwater camera housing) or wrapped in plastic wrap where only the lens is left unwrapped to allow for photos to be taken. The plastic wrap can then be decontaminated by using Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes and discarded after use or wipes can be applied directly on camera surfaces or plastic casing.

For Vehicles:
In addition to gear, vehicles used to transport equipment can also harbor spores. Keep vehicles as clean as possible by storing gear in clean containers, and decontaminate those containers with your other equipment using the decontamination products above.

Note: Protocol updated as of 7-31-2010. Please visit http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/ for updated materials and for comprehensive
supplemental documents that detail decontamination procedures for 1. cavers, and 2. researchers.

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