A new mural celebrating the habitat restoration and conservation initiatives implemented by the City of McAllen at Quinta Mazatlán to protect the iconic and at-risk monarch butterfly was unveiled earlier today by Mayor Javier Villalobos. The artwork, titled “Destino Monarco” after the National Wildlife Federation’s monarch conservation plan, was created by the renowned artist Irving Cano.
Everyone is invited to join park naturalists and volunteers as they spot and count thousands of migrating raptors during our annual Hawk Watch.
Fall Hawk Watch begins September 1st at Bentsen-RGV State Park and runs through the end of October. The public is welcome to join our hawk counters to learn more about birds of prey and to participate in this important citizen science program.
Organizers for the McAllen Holiday Parade have invited the community to be a part of this year’s festivities in various ways, including, a special call for entries for the McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade. Additionally, the parade is seeking volunteers and high school bands throughout the region to be a part of the magical tradition and, thanks to the partnership with McAllen I.S.D., MHP stadium tickets are on sale for McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, from where the parade steps off and pre-parade festivities take place, on Saturday, December 3, 2022, starting at 6 p.m.
Staff at the Gladys Porter Zoo are extremely proud to announce the historic hatching of six endangered Mangshan pit vipers. The Gladys Porter Zoo is now one of only three institutions in the United States to have successfully bred this rare species. There are only about 500 left in the wild which makes this hatching such a momentous event.
Written by Adam Russell, TAMU
Summer is always a challenging time for Texas ornamental and vegetable gardens, but a record heat wave and drought have made it especially difficult to keep plants from turning brown and crispy. So, how can we manage our gardens until rain and cooler temperatures bring relief?
Read more: Record temperatures push limits of plant survival
Rocket, a beloved giraffe at the Gladys Porter Zoo, is now the main character of her own children’s book, Rocket the Space Giraffe. The book was written by Suzanne Shepard, Board President of the Valley Zoological Society, and illustrated by Tilia Rand-Bell, an award-winning illustrator. Since the Zoo’s public unveiling of the book on July 21st, Rocket the Space Giraffe has skyrocketed to the #1 spot in New Releases of Children’s Zoo Books on Amazon.
Read more: New Children’s Book features Gladys Porter Zoo Giraffe
The 82nd annual Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT) is scheduled for Aug. 3-7, 2022, and is expected to attract as many as 1,500 participants. The family-oriented event includes two days of competitive fishing and an array of activities for all ages.
Read more: 82nd Annual Texas International Fishing Tournament
Written by Susan Himes, TAMU
A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert wants people to better understand and appreciate our native bee pollinators.
“When people see a bee in their garden, many assume it is a honeybee when, odds are, it is actually a native bee,” said Molly Keck, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist and entomologist, San Antonio.
#GOSH2022: Explore new Texas destinations and share selfies along the way
AUSTIN – Summer’s going by fast but there’s still time to jump in the car for an unforgettable road trip, near home or across the state.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine’s Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt (GOSH) returns for a third year of carefree fun across Texas. Travel to various locations on the magazine’s list, take a selfie and post it with the hashtag #GOSH2022. Discover history, wildlife, parks, waterways and quirky attractions — plus some classic eateries to visit and an iconic Texas soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music as a “bonus” to enjoy along the way.
When the sun goes down, the moths come out at Quinta Mazatlan! Join us for this very special glimpse into the world of nocturnal insects on Saturday night, July 23rd, open from 9 pm to midnight.
A dimly lit trail will guide the guests through the Thorn Forest trails at Quinta Mazatlan to special Mothing Stations with knowledgeable naturalists. Guests should expect to see spiders, scorpions, frogs, toads, beetles and more.
AUSTIN— As we enter the summer months, Texans are heading to Texas State Parks to enjoy time outdoors. Last year, 43 state parks reported 102 heat-related illnesses in humans and pets. Since January 1, 54 heat-related incidents have already been reported, compared to 34 reported by this time last year.
With temperatures soaring into the triple digits, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is sharing their suggestions for staying safe in the outdoors.
Read more: Texas State Parks share six tips for staying safe on the trails
The Mercedes Police Department, The Uniting Neighbors in Drug Abuse Defense (UNIDAD) Coalition, and Behavioral Solutions of Texas partnered up to install a permanent prescription medication box at Mercedes City Hall, located at 400 S. Ohio Avenue.
Read more: Mercedes Police Department unveils prescription box
Written by Adam Russell, TAMU
Garden spiders may look scary, but they are a friend of gardeners and help keep insect populations in check around the house.
Garden spiders go by many names – writing spiders, yellow garden spiders, banana spider and by their genus – Argiope, said Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist, Austin.
Join the Museum of South Texas History for a Sunday Speaker Series panel discussion, “The Origins of Mariachi Music in South Texas Public Schools,” featuring panelists Ofelia de los Santos, Amancio Chapa Jr. and Miguel de los Santos, Ph.D., at 2 p.m. on July 24.
Read more: Origins of high school mariachi groups in South Texas
CANYON—To curb the risk for heat exposure to visitors, Palo Duro Canyon State Park will begin closing select trails between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. when the National Weather Service issues heat advisories for the area.
Extreme heat at Palo Duro Canyon State Park led to 47 recent rescue calls in under 48 hours. Every year, the park experiences a slew of distress calls during the hot summer months, stretching park staff and emergency services thin.
"Days when Palo Duro Canyon sees extreme heat are not only dangerous for visitors, but also our first responders from around the community,” said Joe Allen, Superintendent of Palo Duro Canyon State Park. “This change will emphasize safe recreation in the heat and reduce the demand on fire and rescue teams.”
