texas parks and wildlife department

The historic 100 year old Battleship Texas at San Jacinto State Park is fighting a new enemy, and she may not win this battle.  She's so rusty her hull is leaking. Worse, fixing this latest leak is like trying to save a dying man with a band-aid. It's sad to contemplate, but this most historic of all 20th century battleships appears to be doomed.

With the long Memorial Day weekend just days away, and with thousands of people heading for the great outdoors, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is busy promoting safe, responsible and sober boating on the state's rivers and lakes.

Because of the wettest winter and spring in years, east Texas lakes are at last back to their normal levels in most areas. "Full Pond", as state hydrologists say.  That means the fishing is better than it's been in years, and the State Parks and Wildlife Department is busy restocking the public lakes and waterways with all kinds of fish, including catfish. BIG catfish. Officials recently

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will hold an open house at the new John D. Parker East Texas State Fish Hatchery near Jasper on Friday and Saturday, April 27th and 28th.

A long time east Texas attraction may have to close down because of cash flow problems.  If the popular Texas State Railroad can't get a cash infusion soon and find ways to make money 12 months a year, its managers say it will go out of business this week.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is one vote away from allowing the use of sound suppressors -- so-called "silencers" -- on firearms used to take game animals -- like deer. The sound suppressor proposal is in a package of suggested changes in state hunting and fishing regulations drawn up by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff.

Texas lakes and waterways -- that once were good places to fish and swim -- aren't as fun or safe as they used to be.  State officials say more and more dangerous exotic fish are turning up.  The latest is a real live meat-eating piranha, caught, in of all places, a recreational lake at a county park outside Houston.

Starting this year, Texas boat operators — and teenagers taking driver’s education courses — will be introduced to new state laws covering safe boating practices, boat handling and emergency procedures, all in an effort to make recreational boating safer.