Latest news with #TPWD
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Body recovered in Lewisville Lake as search for second missing boater continues
Searchers have recovered the body of a man from Lewisville Lake, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Meanwhile, the search continued Thursday for a second missing person, described as female, as the effort entered its third day, TPWD said. Advanced sonar joins search The Texas Game Warden Underwater Search and Recovery Team joined the effort, deploying advanced sonar technology to help locate the two missing boaters, a TPWD spokesperson said. Maggie Berger, public information officer for law enforcement at TPWD, said the agency is not identifying the two boaters "out of respect for their family's wishes." She added that the Denton County Medical Examiner's Office "may be able to release his name." Boat found abandoned Tuesday Texas Game Wardens were initially dispatched to the scene on Tuesday after receiving a report of an abandoned vessel. Despite initial efforts, the boaters were not located before nightfall, TPWD officials said. Multi-agency effort continues The search resumed early Wednesday morning, with Game Wardens joined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they combed the area. Efforts continued Thursday with the addition of the Underwater Search and Recovery Team, according to TPWD. Officials said the investigation is ongoing. Updates to follow CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Adds Aoudad to the List of Animals You Can Hunt from Helicopters
Lone Star lawmakers recently added aoudads to the list of animals hunters can shoot from helicopters in Texas as part of a management tool to aid in the ongoing fight against the invasive sheep. Senate Bill 1245, which passed both state legislative chambers and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in May, will go into effect Sept. 1. The bill expands Texas' aerial wildlife management permit system, which previously only listed feral hogs and coyotes, to include aoudad. Aerial culling efforts have helped Texas with its burgeoning feral swine population. A 2019 USDA study found that helicopter hog hunting, also called 'porkchopping,' has successfully reduced hog numbers by at least 31 percent. Aoudad, also known as Barbary sheep, aren't native to Texas. Originating in North Africa, the species is well-suited to the rough and rugged terrain of West Texas. The animals were introduced to the state in the late 1950s primarily for exotic game ranching and hunting opportunities. Since then, this hardy big game species has flourished — often to the detriment of commercial livestock and native species such as mule deer and bighorn sheep. 'Aoudad sheep bring sheer destruction — they eat everything, spread disease, and push out native species,' representative Ed Morales, Jr, a sponsor of the bill, wrote on X. High numbers of aoudad in dry environments can have a significant negative impact on browse resources, according to TPWD mule deer and pronghorn program leader Shawn Gray. 'The desert ecosystem is so fragile. We're not supposed to have thousands and thousands of animals on them long-term,' Gray told Texas Farm Bureau. More than 30,000 aoudad currently roam the state of Texas. That's a major increase from the 31 animals originally released in Armstrong County in 1957. Natural predation is not enough to keep the population in check. 'A coyote is not going to take one down. The lion could take one down, but it's going to be a fight. So they're breeding faster than you can manage them with a straight hunt,' West Texas rancher Warren Cude told The Texas Tribune. Aoudad also carry the harmful bacteria Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovip.), which spreads in respiratory droplets and secretions and can cause severe reactions and even death in commercial sheep and goat herds. Read Next: Aoudad in West Texas: Is the 'Poor Man's Sheep Hunt' Really a Sheep Hunt? Texas aoudad hold plenty of appeal for hunters, whether they choose to pursue them from a chopper or stalk them on foot. Because the animals live in rugged country, they offer would-be sheep hunters the chance to pursue a challenging species without waiting a lifetime to draw a tag or pay tens of thousands of dollars to hunt native sheep. Texas considers aoudad an exotic species, so there is no closed season or bag limit, although a valid Texas hunting license is required.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Memorial Day weekend records most boating while intoxicated charges in 5 years
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Texas game wardens saw the highest number of boating while intoxicated charges and responded to several boating collisions this past Memorial Day weekend, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) said. Disturbance call at Cascades subdivision leads to officer-involved shooting in Tyler Memorial Day weekend is a holiday meant to honor and celebrate the lives of military personal who lost their lives while fighting for our freedom. However, some Americans can take the celebration too far and when alcohol is combined with getting behind the wheel of a boat, it sometimes leads to bad outcomes. The Texas game wardens witnessed these outcomes this past Memorial Day weekend. 48 packages of hydroponic marijuana seized during East Texas traffic stop 'Our wardens don't just patrol the water, they serve wherever they're needed,' TPWD law enforcement director Colonel Ron VanderRoest said. 'This weekend was a good example of the depth of their commitment to public safety, responding in severe weather, major fire incidents and high-risk law enforcement situations.' The Texas game wardens took care of business as they conducted over 10,000 vessel checks along with issuing more than a thousand warnings and citations. Wardens also saw more serious charges including 53 boating while intoxicated, seven driving while intoxicated and 21 other arrest. Six boating collisions were reported with one them resulting in a death at Grapevine Lake. Two drownings were reported at Red River and Elmendorf Lake along with a 5-year-old girl who was recued after being blown away on an inflatable tube at the Falcon International Reservoir, according to TPWD. Online East Texas predator sentenced after sexual relationship with out-of-state minor 'When alcohol, crowded waterways and severe weather are in the mix, the risk of incidents can rise fast,' Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assistant commander for marine enforcement Cody Jones said. 'That's why we prioritize presence, visibility and swift response. We can't be everywhere at once, so we need the public to meet us halfway by boating responsibly. We are thankful for everyone who did over the holiday weekend.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Texas fisherman catches record bass, releases it 3½ months later
Texas fisherman catches record bass, releases it 3½ months later A Texas fisherman caught a lake-record 14.05-pound largemouth bass at Lady Bird Lake in Austin, making it one of 14 bass in the state that qualified for the 2025 Toyota ShareLunker Program. Willie Pipkin caught the lunker bass on February 5 and then, as part of the ShareLunker Program for bass 13 pounds and bigger, loaned the fish to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to use in its selective breeding and stocking program. Qualifying bass are known as Legacy Class ShareLunkers. Pipkin, joined by wildlife officials, released the bass back into Lady Bird Lake on May 22, as reported by MySan Antonio. Video of the release was posted last week by the TPWD on its Facebook page. 'He just released her back into the lake to let the legend live on,' TPWD wrote in its post. 'Anglers provided 14 Legacy Class ShareLunkers from nine different public lakes across the state of Texas,' the TPWD reported in a press release. 'Another new waterbody recorded its first Legacy Class fish, and O.H. Ivie, the reigning waterbody champion for the past five seasons, finished 2025 with six of the 14 total Legacy Class entries. 'O.H. Ivie retained its designation as the undisputed leader with 59 Legacy Class fish during the five-year span. The lake sprinted across the finish line in 2025 with three consecutive Legacy Lunkers to close out the collection season. The West Texas hotspot accumulated 12 Legacy Class Lunkers in 2021, 2022 and 2024 and amassed a record-shattering 15 ShareLunkers in 2023.' The program runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 each year. 'With new lakes joining the Legacy Class ranks, and returning favorites like O.H. Ivie continuing to impress, it's clear that lunker bass fishing in Texas is thriving,' program coordinator Natalie Goldstrohm stated. 'Every ShareLunker catch helps Texas Parks and Wildlife Department advance bass genetics, fisheries management and angler recognition across the state.' Photos courtesy of the TPWD.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officials lock in nearly 7,000 acres of land for future generations: 'Adds a vital new link in the state's network of preserved natural spaces'
Chron, a division of the Houston Chronicle, reported that Texas is adding 6,900 acres of protected land to the state's network of preserved natural spaces. The establishment of this protected area "presents an opportunity for the conservation and management of an ecologically unique and important habitat," said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) executive director David Yoskowitz. The TPWD announced that the newly-protected area is called the Trinity River Wildlife Management Area, and it is the first time in nearly 20 years that the state has added a significant mass of land to its protected area. These public lands, overseen by TPWD, have a goal to protect native wildlife and habitats and create outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors. The protected status was secured through a combination of public and private funding. In total, Texas has over 50 Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) of over 700,000 acres that cover different ecological regions. Having protected land is important because these areas are critical to preserving natural habitats and biodiversity. Wildlife can thrive in their natural environments, which helps the species become better-established and can revive endangered populations. Protected lands also help communities by maintaining natural landscapes that become areas of recreation and cultural significance, ensuring the lands are conserved for future generations. Chron reports that the new WMA borders more than 11 miles of the Trinity River, bringing together a conservation corridor connecting more than 21,000 acres of protected land, including bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands. The protected area will help naturally absorb and slow floodwater, reducing erosion and improving water quality downstream, having a positive impact on human health. The land is also providing a natural, protected habitat for migratory birds, pollinators that are vital to the health of the region, and other wildlife. TPWD is set to begin restoration efforts of this newly protected area and plans to revitalize the wetlands, bottomland hardwood forests, and upland prairie. In addition to providing a secure habitat for wildlife, the plan is to provide Texans and visitors from other areas more opportunities to connect with nature. The area, according to the article, "adds a vital new link in the state's network of preserved natural spaces." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
