Where to See Bighorn Sheep | Whooping Cranes on the Coast | Avoid Garden Netting | Bird Health | Community Events | and More!





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Bighorn Sheep Return to Franklin Mountains
Bighorn sheep herd on side of a mountain, video link [ [link removed] ]

Bighorn sheep are back home in the Franklin Mountains after being away more than 100 years. With the help of our partners, we recently relocated 77 bighorns into West Texas' Franklin Mountains State Park [ [link removed] ], revitalizing that ecosystem. 

Pay them a visit in spring, when bighorn lambs are expected, and Mexican gold poppies bloom on the slopes of the mountains. While you're in the area, drive the local Great Texas Wildlife Trails [ [link removed] ]: El Paso Uplands Loop [ [link removed] ] and El Paso Rio Loop [ [link removed] ].

Get more of the story on how we translocated these bighorns in our "Texas Parks & Wildlife" magazine article Bighorn Sheep Start New Journey in Franklin Mountains [ [link removed] ]. See the relocation in action in our video, Restoring Bighorn Sheep [ [link removed] ] – this sneak peek of an upcoming PBS show is courtesy of our television series, Texas Parks and Wildlife [ [link removed] ], which is celebrating its 40th season.  

4 Alternatives to Garden Netting

Hognose snake caught in garden netting, video [ [link removed] ]

Using netting to keep birds out of your garden can be deadly. Animals of all kinds may become entangled, suffer and die before they can be released. 

Instead, hang shiny strips of foil, install rubber snakes or an owl decoy. Or cover plants with a lightweight fabric, like tulle, and seal it with clothespins. Get more alternatives to bird netting in our video Garden Netting Can Kill Wildlife - Tips from a Wildlife Biologist [ [link removed] ].



See Endangered Whoopers on the Texas Coast
3 whooping cranes in a field, video link [ [link removed] ]

Whooping cranes [ [link removed] ] have been a slow but steady conservation success – only 50 of these crimson-capped cranes existed in 1967, when they were declared endangered. Thanks to conservation efforts, there are now 500+. Find out more in the "Texas Parks & Wildlife" magazine story Whooping Crane Population Staying Above 500 [ [link removed] ].

The only wild flock of whooping cranes in the world spends November-March on the Texas coast. Whoopers reside with their young, called colts, at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge [ [link removed] ] – a boat tour is your best bet to see them there. The birds are also expanding into other areas, including Goose Island State Park [ [link removed] ].

Port Aransas throws an annual festival [ [link removed] ] for them each February. See what it's like, and where attendees go to see the birds, in our video Port Aransas Whooping Crane Festival [ [link removed] ].

Conservation license plate ad, with link [ [link removed] ]


Join In These Wildlife Watching Events



GTBC team in Galveston, link [ [link removed] ]

The Great Texas Birding Classic [ [link removed] ] (GTBC) is the biggest and most fun birdwatching tournament in the country, and it starts *April 15*! Even if you're new to birding, there are categories [ [link removed] ] for all skill levels. 

Follow GTBC Facebook [ [link removed] ] and check out the fun photos from previous events. Register [ [link removed] ] by *April 1*, and we'll see you out there!



Female cardinal on branch, link [ [link removed] ]

Join people around the world in the Great Backyard Bird Count [ [link removed] ] *Feb. 14-17*. Participating is easy, free and fun. Do it alone or with others anywhere you find birds.

To participate, just watch birds for at least 15 minutes, identify them and share your finds. Free mobile apps like Merlin [ [link removed] ] and eBird [ [link removed] ] make it easy! 












Texas Paddling Trails - see things your way, link [ [link removed] ]
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Your Backyard: Help Birds Avoid Avian Flu
Flock of goldfinches drinking water and chatting [ [link removed] ]

American goldfinches

Avian flu is currently circulating among Texas’ wild birds. You can help stop the spread by cleaning your bird feeders [ [link removed] ] and bird-water containers at least every 2 weeks. Clean them with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Find out more in our press release [ [link removed] ].

Share Your Thoughts on the Wildlife Action Plan

painted bunting, link [ [link removed] ]

We are currently reviewing the Texas State Wildlife Action Plan [ [link removed] ] (SWAP) and would like your input. SWAP identifies the threats to Texas’ at-risk wildlife species and what conservation actions are needed. We've created a public survey [ [link removed] ] so you can provide feedback.

Find out more about SWAP and the survey [ [link removed] ] and watch our video State Wildlife Action Plan for Texas [ [link removed] ]. 

Take the Survey [ [link removed] ]




"A message from our sponsor: "

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"Messages from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine advertisers:"

Visit El Paso and see the Bighorns, link [ [link removed] ]
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Visit Palestine to see the blooming dogwoods, link [ [link removed] ]
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EarthX in Dallas, link [ [link removed] ]
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"Our Wild Texas is made possible in part by the generous support of Toyota."

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