Where to See Bats | Add a Bat House | New WMA Lands | Plant for Wildlife: Frogfruit | Birds of S Padre | and More!





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Summertime is Bat-viewing Time
Bats emerge from cave near onlookers at Devils Sinkhole State Park, video link [ [link removed] ]

Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area

Don't miss one of Texas' best shows of the summer, the emergence of wild bats at twilight. People come from all around the world to watch the bats exit caves, parks and city bridges, and some of these roosts are home to millions of bats!

See them yourself at any of our state's bat-watching sites [ [link removed] ]. For tips on when to go and bat-watching etiquette, check out our short video Bat-watching Basics - Tips from a Wildlife Biologist [ [link removed] ]. Before you head out, it's a good idea to give your destination a call and confirm the bats are active.

Add a Bat House to Your Landscape

bat house on a pole, link [ [link removed] ]

Bats are losing habitat and you can help them out by providing a bat house, also known as a bat box. 

Whether you build a bat box yourself [ [link removed] ] or purchase one, keep these tips in mind: 


* Don't mount your box on a tree, which gives predators easy access
* Mount your box on a structure like a house, or on a pole

Find out more in the short video Bat Boxes 101 [ [link removed] ]. 



Ground Cover for Wildlife: Frogfruit
Bordered patch butterfly nectaring on frogfruit [ [link removed] ]

Bordered patch butterfly on frogfruit

Any Texas gardener familiar with the ground cover frogfruit [ [link removed] ] is likely to sing its praises. It's native, drought and flood resistant, grows in sun or part shade, easily propagates via runners, and it performs well in most of the state. 

But the cherry on top is literally a butterfly on top: frogfruit is the host plant for phaon crescent [ [link removed] ], buckeye [ [link removed] ] and white peacock [ [link removed] ] butterflies. Plus, even more butterflies come by to sip nectar from its clusters of tiny white blooms. 

Frogfruit also makes a good "spiller" for containers – plant it at the edge and it will cascade down the side. It has one Achille's heel: never mow or prune frogfruit while it's blooming – it could take years to recover. Find more native Texas plants for your region [ [link removed] ]. 

Conservation License Plates 25th Anniversary, link [ [link removed] ]
New Land Acquisitions for WMAs
Black Gap desert landscape with creek, link [ [link removed] ]

Black Gap WMA

Your Wildlife Management Areas [ [link removed] ] (WMA) just got a boost with two recent land acquisitions.


* Heath Canyon Ranch is a 671-acre property located just outside Big Bend National Park. The Nature Conservancy in Texas purchased the property, which will be managed by us as part of the Black Gap WMA [ [link removed] ].
* Approximately 6,900 acres in East Texas will become the new Trinity River WMA. It includes 11.3 miles of Trinity River frontage, giving Texas more than 25 miles of riverbank conservation along this important corridor for migratory birds.

Find out more in our press releases The Nature Conservancy, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Announce Purchase of Heath Canyon Ranch near Big Bend National Park [ [link removed] ], and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Acquires First New East Texas Wildlife Management Area in Nearly Two Decades [ [link removed] ].

WMAs are working laboratories for learning about wildlife and habitat. These activities may effect what you can see and do while there, so call a WMA before you visit it.




Join In the Summer Fun!



bird Bingo with link [ [link removed] ]

 

Bird Bingo [ [link removed] ] is a fun way to add birding to any outdoor activity. To play, select any region, print out the card, and mark off the birds as you see them. 

Looking for somewhere to go? Bird Bingo cards align with Texas Wildlife Trails [ [link removed] ], which direct you to some of the best wildlife viewing in Texas. 

Start playing today! One lucky winner will receive 4 passes to the 2026 Birding the Border festival.



GOSH scavenger hunt, link [ [link removed] ]

 

If you like treasure hunts, Texas and taking selfies, you'll enjoy the Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt [ [link removed] ] (GOSH).

It's free and easy to play – take a selfie doing designated activities, email them to [email protected]. Or post your selfies on Instagram with #GOSH2025 and tag @tpwmagazine.

Check out the rules and rewards of the game [ [link removed] ], then join us in playing GOSH!













*Chill Out Video: Birds of South Padre Island*
Great blue heron close-up, video link [ [link removed] ]

The lower Texas coast [ [link removed] ] is an excellent spot for seeing birds year-round. Take a minute to enjoy a drone's-eye-view of birds found in the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, plus close-ups of some favorites – all in our super-short video Birding South Padre - Postcard From Texas [ [link removed] ].

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