TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

Thousands of rainbow trout will be stocked in lakes and ponds around San Antonio this winter. Here's where to cast your line.

The “peak” fall foliage season has finally reached the Lone Star State.

“This is the conversation piece of a lifetime.”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is offering free entry to all Texas State Parks on Nov. 13 in honor of veterans and active duty military.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is set to kick off its annual rainbow trout stocking and more than 20,000 fish are expected to be stocked along the Canyon Tailrace of the Guadalupe River in the New Braunfels area.

The general hunting season for white-tailed deer starts on Saturday in South Texas and runs through Jan. 15. Here are the specific regulations for Webb County.

White-tailed deer season begins Saturday in the South Zone of Texas, and across the state as hunters prepare for the annual season.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding state park visitors to leave no trace, including putting those rocks down.

If you’ve caught any black-marked bass, you may be able to cash in on it.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is asking hunters, wildlife rehabilitators and the public, in general, to be cautious when handling birds to help reduce the spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPIA.

River otters have been spotted in Spring Branch, something Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials call “fairly rare.”

A man has died while hiking in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The highly infectious Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), also known as zombie deer disease, has been discovered in the Texas Hill Country.

Two popular fishing spots in San Antonio are going to be restocked with catfish ahead of Labor Day weekend.

Another Texas lake is now considered “fully infested” with zebra mussels.

New dinosaur tracks were discovered at a Texas state park last week after a year of excessive drought.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) announces the opening of a new paddling trail at Toledo Bend Reservoir on Patroon Bayou.

Researchers in the Rio Grande Valley discovered an invasive crayfish that can have a negative effect on native species and can also carry the crayfish plague.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department may add containment and surveillance zones to stem the spread of chronic wasting disease, or “zombie deer disease,” in South-Central Texas.

Honey Creek Spring Ranch is regarded as an area of ecological importance and is home to endangered to threatened species.

A fish kill was reported to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department last week in Port Aransas.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is offering tips to help people stay safe on trails in the heat.

The beach side of Galveston Island State Park reopened on Monday with new campsites and amenities — a renovation that was years in the making after Hurricane Ike damaged structures there in 2018.

Every year on the first Saturday in June, anyone can fish recreationally without a license in Texas.

Invasive species pose a significant threat to Texas lakes.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be stocking waterbodies across the state with bass between May and July.

A month after the avian flu was first detected in Texas in a commercial flock of pheasants, the state has its first confirmed case in a wild bird.

Texas Game Wardens discovered a massive amount of shark fins at a San Antonio seafood establishment on Wednesday.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is about to start stocking Texas lakes with catfish as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program and two of those lakes are in San Antonio.

If you’re hanging out outside as the weather starts to warm up you might encounter some slithery friends.

Honey Creek Spring Ranch is regarded as an area of ecological importance and is home to endangered to threatened species.

The quagga mussel — a close relative of the zebra mussel that’s already invaded 33 state lakes — was detected in Texas for the first time.

The lizard’s fragility has been recognized since at least 1977, when the state officially classified horny toads as threatened. The growing sprawl of Texas cities wiped away large swaths of habitat.

The wildlife stories are bigger in Texas, too.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials drove a giant Virginia Pine tree to Austin Monday morning for display at the state Capitol.

A hiker at Palo Duro Canyon State Park had to be rescued over the weekend after she ventured off a trail and became trapped on a cliff edge, park authorities said.

A man in Montgomery County was busted in August for illegally capturing and keeping an alligator and several invasive and endangered species at his home.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock 20,331 rainbow trout in the Canyon Tailrace portion of the Guadalupe River over the course of three months starting Dec. 3.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is alerting the public to the dangers of discarded fishing line due to the issues it causes, not just for the environment, but for wildlife.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is expected to stock roughly thousands of rainbow trout in two San Antonio lakes on Nov. 24 as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program.

A portion of “one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie” in Texas is in the works to become a state park, someday.

Texas might be getting some love from the fishing community after an angler who lives in Johnson City reeled in a potential world record blue catfish.

We know it’s the spooky season but a tongue-eating parasite is apparently a real thing and it was recently found inside a fish at Galveston Island State Park.

The largest private lake in Texas is officially for sale and it sits on a property that also includes a state park.

In Central Texas, the "peak" season for fall foliage is mid-November

In a rare move, the U.S. government is giving up hope of finding 23 species, including one from San Marcos.

A “unique” and popular feature at Lost Maples State Natural Area that goes back thousands of years was recently tagged with graffiti, park officials said.

A few Texas State Parks along the coastal areas have temporarily closed due to Tropical Storm Nicholas, which is expected to make landfall on Monday afternoon.

It was a special sighting for one Hill Country homeowner who spotted an albino western diamondback rattlesnake on his property recently.

Crews are still searching for a dolphin in Aransas Bay that needs rescuing after being tangled in crab trap line, according to the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Did you know there are animals known as shrimp eels and that they’re actually super common along the Texas coast?

Over 25 alligator snapping turtles were released back into the East Texas wild after they were seized in an illegal trafficking attempt in 2016, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Keep an eye out for porcupines! According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, these prickly creatures are expanding to new areas across Texas.

If you pass by a squirrel that is face down and sprawled out on the ground, don’t panic. Texas Parks and Wildlife officials say they’re “splooting,” and it’s normal.

A man from El Paso who was found unresponsive in Balmorhea State Park’s spring-fed swimming pool has been pronounced dead, according to reports.

Silver carp, an invasive species that have the potential to devastate local ecosystems and “cause significant changes in native fish populations” through competition for food, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants boaters heading to the state’s lakes or rivers for the weekend to do their part keeping them free of invasive species.

Recently, a homeowner in the Kingsland area shared a photo to social media showing a float her family keeps in the water at Lake LBJ that’s completely covered in zebra mussels.

Editor’s note: We have been told by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that CWD is not commonly referred to as ‘Zombie Deer Disease’ despite multiple reports from other outlets. We have reached out to the CDC for further information as well and will update this story with further details.

There are only an estimated 50-80 ocelots left in Texas but there’s hope for the future for these rare animals.

As people are venturing outdoors for the summertime, the chances of coming across a snake are more likely, especially in Texas.

New monarch butterfly conservation license plates will be available to Texas motorists starting Monday.

Invasive zebra mussels that are known to harm wildlife have now infested three more lakes -- Lake Brownwood, Inks Lake and Medina Lake -- according to Texas Parks and Wildlife officials.

Balmorhea State Park has been closed to visitors since September 2019 for construction and repairs.

It’s creepy, it’s crawly, it has eyes... what is it?

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is offering a chance to win a mentored hog hunt.

June 5, 2021 is free fishing day in Texas.

Texas Parks and Wildlife’s community archery program wants to help all Texans learn the different skills necessary to becoming a successful bowhunter.

Many people don’t realize that there are alligators in Bexar County, but there are.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department started stocking catfish in Texas lakes as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program on April 23.

Heavy rains in the San Antonio-area overnight could cause a spike in snake sightings.

Many human-animal encounters are unnecessary and can even be detrimental to the wildlife.

If you’re looking for a reason to enjoy the great outdoors a little more this spring, Texas Parks and Wildlife is inviting all Texans to participate in the 6th Annual City Nature Challenge.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says that businesses and homeowners around the state can help migrant birds with a simple step: Turn off your lights.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials have confirmed the first 2021 case of a deadly rabbit virus.

SAN ANTONIO – Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Inland Fisheries San Antonio District reported on Monday that some San Antonio fishing spots would start to get stocked with catfish in the coming weeks. According to a social media post, Miller’s Pond and Southside Lions Park will be stocked with channel catfish starting the week of April 23rd. We will be stocking Miller’s Pond and Southside Lions... Posted by Inland Fisheries San Antonio District - Texas Parks and Wildlife on Monday, March 22, 2021After the initial stocking, both locations will be stocked every two weeks with catfish. According to TPWD, every year the Inland and Coastal Fisheries divisions of TPWD stock approximately 40 million fish in public lakes, ponds and saltwater bays. Since Dec. 2, 2020, TPWD has released 10,336 Rainbow Trout in the San Antonio area as part of the Neighborhood Fishing program.

Invasive zebra mussels that are known to harm wildlife have been detected at Medina Lake and could spread to nearby waterways, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

SAN ANTONIO – The winter freeze killed nearly 4 million fish along the Texas coast in what officials are calling the largest fish kill event since the 1980s. The Upper and Lower Laguna Madre bays which are off the South Texas Coast were hit particularly hard, according to TPWD. The estimated 3.8 million fish killed in Texas consisted of 61 species, with 91% of those include non-recreational fish like hardhead catfish and pinfish. Just before the freeze, TPWD closed fishing on the Texas coast that could have further impacted wildlife. Other wildlife species impacted by the storm include axis deer, blackbuck, nilgai antelope and multiple bird species, according to TPWD.

Mountain lions, like this one pictured on the US Forest Service website, are not known for consuming human flesh. HARLINGEN, Texas – A mountain lion was hit and killed by a car traveling near Highway 77 in Cameron County in the Rio Grande Valley over the weekend, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials said. According to a statement from TPWD provided to KSAT, the mountain lion was killed north of Harlingen. He said when a young mountain lion does that it can go as far as 300 miles from where it was born. And that’s really important to remember.”To date, officials have reported two mountain lion sightings in Cameron County within the last year and 36 across the state.

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is warning pet stores and pet owners about a moss ball aquarium plant that could be contaminated with invasive zebra mussels. The moss balls are sold as an aquarium plant under names including “Beta Buddy Marimo Balls,” “Mini Marimo Moss Balls,” and “Marimo Moss Ball Plant.”They are sold separately but also included in the sale of betta fish. “Zebra mussels can be recognized as small shellfish with triangular, brownish shells, often with their namesake zebra stripes, that may be attached to or growing inside the moss balls. Aquarium water should be replaced and filters and cartridges should be replaced or disinfected, TPWD said. Ad“Invasive species such as these zebra mussels and snails can hitchhike in aquatic plants sold for aquarium use,” said Monica McGarrity, Senior Scientist for Aquatic Invasive Species.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is now taking applications for summer interns. Applications for summer 2021 are due March 26, according to a news release. You could intern with one of the following divisions: law enforcement, wildlife, state parks, infrastructure, communications, coastal fisheries and inland fisheries. The internship runs May 27 through Aug. 1, and requires students to assist for 20 hours a week, on weekends. To apply for internships with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, you can also visit the job listing page on the TPWD website.

The Environmental Sciences Department is continuing to monitor the sightings, and officials said the dead fish are not caused by poor water quality. Anyone who spots dead fish along the river is asked to contact the River Authority’s Environmental Investigations team online or by calling 866-345-7272. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said fish on the Texas coast first started dying off on Feb. 14. Among the fish species impacted were spotted seatrout, red drum, sheepshead, grey snapper, snook, black drum and tarpon. Other wildlife species impacted by the storm include axis deer, blackbuck, nilgai antelope and multiple bird species, according to TPWD.

SAN ANTONIO – As the state was crippled by subfreezing temperatures, millions of people were left with out power, water and food for days. Hundreds of Mexican Free-tailed Bats were discovered dead under San Antonio bridges and underpasses. Camara said the Loop 410 and San Pedro underpass is home to one of the city’s largest colony of bats. Some bats froze to death and others died from impact injuries sustained after falling from 40 to 50-foot high bridges. Head injuries, back injuries, internal injuries.

Bob Hall Pier is closed until further notice due to construction. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will temporarily close some saltwater fishing spots along the coast — including some on Padre Island and near Rockport, Fulton and Aransas Pass — due to freezing weather. The 21 fishing sites will close at midnight on Monday and stay closed until 11:59 p.m., TPWD said in a news release on Saturday. During that time, fishing will be off-limits in these areas in an effort to protect the wildlife and resources. You can get the very latest forecast anytime by bookmarking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority App - available for both Apple and Android devices.

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is giving an inside look at the process of transporting rainbow trout from hatcheries to Texas waterways. Watch as rainbow trout make their journey from our hatchery to a waterway. The rainbow trout stocked at the lakes will be big enough to catch and eat for anyone wanting to keep their haul. For anglers interested in tailrace fishing, TPWD stocks rainbow trout below several dams and spillways, which often have very cool water and provide excellent conditions for trout fishing. A total of 322,568 rainbow trout will be stocked at locations across Texas from Nov. 30 through the beginning of March.

LIPAN, Texas – A final autopsy for a Texas man whose body was found last month in the woods determined that he died from neck injuries due to an animal attack, but wildlife experts and sheriff’s officials disagree on whether that animal was a mountain lion. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that 28-year-old Christopher Allen Whiteley’s cause of death last month was from neck injuries due to an animal attack, the Hood County sheriff’s office said Tuesday. Lt. Johnny Rose of the Hood County sheriff's office said they believe Whiteley was killed by a mountain lion. He said the autopsy does not specify what kind of animal killed Whitely. Texas wildlife officials have said that fatal mountain attacks on people are extremely rare, as are any confirmed sightings of the animals in North Texas.

This month starts the 35th season of the Toyota Sharelunker Program, which is a coordination effort with Texas Parks and Wildlife to increase the production of trophy-sized fish in Texas reservoirs. The year-long program offers four levels of participation for catching bass over 8 pounds or 24 inches in Texas. During the first three months of the year, anglers who reel in a 13 pound bass or larger can loan it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Sharelunker selective breeding and stocking program. Once a lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota Sharelunker mobile app. For more information on this program or to report a fish, anglers can call the Sharelunker hotline at (903) 681-0550 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Lake Buchanan has officially been designated as “infested” with the invasive species known as zebra mussels. Scientists with the Lower Colorado River Authority discovered zebra mussel larvae at three different sites around Lake Buchanan in October. Crews working on a floodgate project at the lake discovered settled zebra mussels shortly after, at the beginning of December. If you have stored your boat in the water at a lake with zebra mussels, it is likely infested with zebra mussels and poses an extremely high risk for moving this invasive species to a new lake, TPWD officials said. A map showing all lakes where zebra mussels have been found in Texas can be found here.

DALLAS – Texas wildlife officials say they suspect that a mountain lion killed over the weekend was the same one spotted outside of Dallas in recent weeks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said Tuesday that the mountain lion — an adult male that weighed about 160 pounds — was legally killed Saturday by a deer hunter. Wildlife officials said there was no evidence that any wild animal killed Whiteley. Wildlife officials have said mountain lions are very uncommon in North Texas but are common in parts of West and South Texas. They also say that fatal mountain lion attacks on people are very rare, with fewer than 30 people killed by mountain lions across the U.S. in the last 100 years.

UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas – Texas Game Wardens seized 350 crappie fish fillets that were confiscated from fishermen at Lake O’ the Pines in Upshur County. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, game wardens received an anonymous tip about a substantial amount of fish that had been cleaned and dumped at the lake. TPW officials found two fishermen who were in the possession of 350 crappie fish fillets. Officials say the fishermen were well over the state legal possession limit of crappie fish, which is 25 per person. The department said the fish fillets were seized and donated to multiple families around the area.

AUSTIN, Texas – Rangers with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department drove a giant Virginia Pine tree to Austin this morning for display at the state Capitol. Mamie II (pronounced: MAY-me) is the name of the tree which was harvested from Eisenhower State Park along the northern border of Texas. Texas State Parks have provided Christmas trees harvested from tree farms to the Texas State Capitol for more than 40 years, according to officials with the TPWD. Rangers from Eisenhower State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife will be driving this Texas gal... Posted by Texas Parks and Wildlife on Sunday, November 29, 2020Mamie II took over the Eisenhower State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife Facebook page Monday to document her journey from North Texas to Austin where she arrived around noon after stopping at Buc-cee’s in Temple for a rest. Posted by Eisenhower State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife on Monday, November 30, 2020Related:

AUSTIN – Shopping for Christmas trees is an event, but you know how the saying goes: “Everything is bigger in Texas.”Meet Mamie II, a Virginia Pine tree grown in Denison, Texas. Mamie II will make a trip to the Texas capitol on Monday to help spread some holiday cheer. Hey, Texas! Meet Mamie II. Born and raised in North Texas, Mamie II knows she has big shoes to fill after her predecessor, Mamie, but this Texas girl has the perfect boots for the job!

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock 20,921 rainbow trout in the Canyon Tailrace over the course of eight weeks starting Dec. 4. The tentative dates for rainbow trout stocking along the tailrace are Dec. 4, 11, 18, 23 and 31, as well as Jan. 8, 15, 22, and 29. Rainbow trout are stocked as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program which encourages families to spend time together outdoors. “Rainbow trout stockings begin around Thanksgiving in Bexar County and will continue through February,” a TPWD spokesperson previously told KSAT. A total of 334,088 rainbow trout will be stocked in lakes and ponds across Texas for the 2020-2021 trout stocking season, TPWD reported.

SAN ANTONIO – As most people look to socially distance or take other precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, another population is being threatened by a separate virus. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Virus is nearly always fatal and primarily affects adult rabbits. Tina Gilson, the president of The Alamo City House Rabbits, a group that works with domestic rabbits in San Antonio and South Texas, says they are taking this threat seriously. the disease was confirmed in several species of wild rabbits in Texas. RHDV2 IN TEXAS: This is a game changer for rabbits, both domestic and wild, in the State of Texas.

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are expected to stock roughly 10,336 rainbow trout in four San Antonio-area lakes as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program. Earl Scott Pond, Live Oak City Park, Miller’s Pond and Southside Lions Park (Hi Lions) will be stocked on select days from November through February. An estimated 3,792 rainbow trout will be stocked in Miller’s Pond and 4,744 will be stocked at Southside Lions Park, according to TWPD officials. However, licenses and endorsements are not required when fishing in a Texas state park. The rainbow trout stocked at the lakes will be big enough to catch and eat for anyone who wants to keep their catch.

SAN ANTONIO – Texans needing a day of rest and relaxation after the chaotic election season can get into any state park for free on Sunday. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is waiving fees at all of the state parks in honor of Veterans Day. “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas State Parks are proud to honor the men and women that serve our country in the military,” Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks, said in a news release. “What better way to celebrate their service and dedication than by spending the day at a beautiful Texas State Park.”Veterans Day lands on Wednesday, Nov. 11. TPWD is reminding happy campers that parks have capacity limits, and it is recommended that they reserve a day pass online or by calling 512-389-8900.

Biologists from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are predicting an above-average season for white-tailed deer hunters. A special youth-only gun deer season is set for Oct. 31- Nov. 1 and Jan. 4-17, 2021. TPWD White-Tailed Deer Program Leader Alan Cain said hunters in the Edwards Plateau, Cross Timbers and South Texas eco-regions should expect some of the best conditions. For additional late season deer hunting opportunities, county-specific regulations, and information on how to properly tag and report a harvest, consult the 2020-21 all-digital Outdoor Annual. Hunters taking advantage of Texas Public Hunting Lands must also have the Annual Public Hunting Permit, TPWD officials said.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials say hunters can help prevent the spread of invasive species in the Lone Star State.