Country Notes
October 13, 2014
Wild in the Streets
The year we gave thanks—at least at first—for the turkeys in our town.
Wildlife
Stories and updates on some of the state’s many animals
The Daily Post
August 15, 2014
Amazing Pictures of the Houston Zoo’s Big Cats From National Geographic and Photographer Vincent J. Musi
Your move, cat pics people.
Critters
July 2, 2014
How Do We Feel About The Texas Tech Cheerleader Who’s Also A Big Game Hunter?
Kendall Jones is a Texas Tech cheerleader who became the flashpoint of Internet controversy this week for posting numerous pictures of herself with felled African creatures. Is the controversy fair?
Food & Drink
May 27, 2014
How the W Hotel in Austin Ended Up With a Bee Hive on Its Roof
Walter Schumacher’s organization, Central Texas Bee Rescue, is saving bees one hive at a time.
Politics & Policy
April 18, 2014
Texas’s Economic Outlook
Texans should be proud of the state's economic performance, but they should be smart about the challenges that lie ahead.
The Daily Post
February 13, 2014
Crucifictorious Returns In The ‘Parenthood’/’Friday Night Lights’ Crossover Webisodes
Lance, son, we need to talk about what you're doing with your life.
Critters
July 15, 2013
The Texas Brown Tarantula
You think you’re scared. Clarence here is about to mate for the first time. After which he’ll be killed and eaten.
Travel & Outdoors
April 17, 2013
The Silver Kings
The wild and powerful tarpon once ruled the seas off Port Aransas. Why did the ancient fish disappear? And could they make a comeback?
San Antonio
January 24, 2013
Considering the Cactus
A Lament on Roots, Bexar County, TX
The Culture
January 21, 2013
The Nuge’s Stranglehold
Ted Nugent, the unrepentant hunter and right-wing activist, grabs the media's attention with his political rhetoric, landing appearances on the Texas Tribune and CBS This Morning.
January 21, 2013
Burros Live! For a While Longer Anyway
The Texas Parks and Wildlife department is temporarily suspending its controversial policy of shooting wild burros in Big Bend Ranch State Park to control the animal population.
January 21, 2013
Why Does Wisconsin Care About Texas’s Whooping Cranes?
The drought threatening the state's whooping crane population highlights the importance of current conservation efforts in Wisconsin.
January 21, 2013
Wild Burros Protest at the Capitol
Six burros and their handlers marched up Lavaca Street to the Capitol, a furry showing of opposition to TPWD's feral burro-eradication program.
January 21, 2013
Energy Company Opts Not to Exterminate Prairie Dog Colony
Before developing a drilling site in Burleson, Chesapeake Energy relocates a prairie dog colony.
January 21, 2013
Whooping Cranes Have Their Day in Court
The endangered whooping crane is at the center of a lawsuit that could change the rights of water users in Texas.
Feature
January 21, 2013
Home on the Range?
Texas Parks and Wildlife has embarked on an ambitious plan to restore the desert bighorn sheep population in Big Bend Ranch State Park. To accomplish this goal, the department has had to make hard choices about which animals live, which animals die, and what truly belongs in the Trans-Pecos.
Web Exclusive
January 21, 2013
A Q&A With Nate Blakeslee
The senior editor on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s program to reintroduce bighorn sheep in the Big Bend.
Feature
January 21, 2013
The Birdman of Texas
Victor Emanuel can find you a hooded warbler, a horned guan, or maybe even an Eskimo curlew. But his real genius is that he can get you to really look at a grackle.
Web Exclusive
January 21, 2013
A Q&A With Katy Vine
The senior editor on embracing enthusiasm, going birding with Victor Emanuel, and wading through tall grass.
Feature
January 21, 2013
A Big Splash
The biggest blue catfish ever caught in Texas—121.5 pounds—was hauled flipping and flopping out of Lake Texoma on January 16, 2004, by Howe resident Cody Mullennix. Contrary to iron-clad tradition, Mullennix did not eat the critter, stuff it, or hang its head on a rural fence post. He donated it,
Critters
January 1, 2013
The Red Imported Fire Ant
Why are they so damn angry all the time?
Critters
December 1, 2012
The White-Tailed Deer
Ever wonder about that fellow in the crosshairs?
Critters
October 31, 2012
The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Juanita, a Mexican free-tailed bat, tells us a little about herself.
The Culture
September 30, 2012
The Javelina
Sure, they stink. But whatever you do, don’t confuse them with feral pigs.
Critters
August 31, 2012
The Horny Toad
First of all, they're not really horny.
Letter from Aransas Pass
July 31, 2012
Crane Man
Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Tom Stehn didn’t want to get involved in a lawsuit against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. But when a U.S. marshal showed up in his driveway, he realized he had one more chance to help out his beloved, endangered whooping cranes.
Food & Drink
April 18, 2012
Texas’s Five Most Delicious Invasive Species
Could eating invasive species be the best way to get rid of them?
Hunting
January 1, 2012
The Bucks Stop Here
East Texas deer breeder Billy Powell flouted the laws against importing live whitetails, emailing photos of his illegally obtained animals to prospective customers. Then Texas Parks and Wildlife came calling.
December 15, 2011
Border Fence Threatens America’s Remaining Ocelots
Biologists are worried that the U.S.-Mexico border fence adversely impacts endangered species and other animals.
December 2, 2011
Bum Steer of the Week: A Case of Fowl Play Turned Deadly
A man murders a beloved turkey that lived in a New Braunfels park.
November 29, 2011
They Shoot Burros, Don’t They?
The unhappy plight of the roving burros in Big Bend has attracted the notice of the San Antonio Express-News’ editorial board.
Web Exclusive
April 30, 2011
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
Victor Emanuel describes what he likes about these beautiful birds that can be found in Texas.
Travel & Outdoors
February 1, 2011
For the Birds
Birds resemble art in more ways than one, especially when they force us to address questions of ineffable provenance.
Travel & Outdoors
October 1, 1990
Go Fish
See the Gulf Coast from the bottom up at Corpus Christi’s new underwater show.
Critters
January 1, 1990
Swamp Thing
Snapping turtles are cantankerous, grotesque, and savage. And those are just a few of the reasons I like them.
Travel & Outdoors
June 1, 1983
Phantom Cat of the Valley
Meet the ocelot, not as pet, not as fur coat, but in its best role—an elusive remnant of Texas’ wild past.
Travel & Outdoors
October 1, 1982
On the Wing
Roy Kendall, self-taught lepidopterist, would want you to add this to the list of reasons for living in Texas: nowhere else in the U.S. are there so many beautiful and unusual butterflies.
Parks & Recs
April 1, 1980
On the Edge of Texas
For hundreds of years man—from the Comanche to the backpacker—has tried to conquer Big Bend. Still, it remains wild, stark, and pristine.
Critters
March 31, 1975
Zoo Story
A guide to Texas zoos: living like an animal is better than it’s ever been.