Nature and Wildlife

Aug 01 2018, Kiah Collier

State park could close if Trump builds border wall through it

Birding tourism, a huge industry in the Rio Grande Valley, could be affected by negative environmental impacts of the border wall. Above, a Kisskadee perches at Resaca de la Palma, a World Birding Center Texas state park. Photo by Callie Richmond/The Texas Tribune.

Aug. 1, 2018

Jul 24 2018, AMY MARTIN

East Texan spins prairie wisdom on grassland tour

People & Prairies is a three-part series highlighting people making a difference in prairie preservation.

In this second installment, we meet a philosophical cattle rancher in Hopkins County. Photos by Stalin SM.

July 24, 2018

Karl Ebel doesn’t look much like a Taoist philosopher. Tall and lanky, with a deep drawl that slows time, his jeans are torn and dirty, skin is tanned to umber, and his shredded leather boots sport manure.

Jul 24 2018, MINNIE PAYNE

Nature Expo returns to Dallas library

Learn about the natural world from local experts on Saturday, July 28, at the downtown Dallas library.

July 18, 2018

Nature lovers of all ages can talk to wildlife experts, master naturalists and environmental advocates at a free expo this Saturday in downtown Dallas.

The second annual Nature Expo, hosted by the Dallas Public Library, will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on July 28 at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young St., downtown Dallas.

Jul 11 2018, JULIE THIBODEAUX

Arlington activists put light pollution in spotlight

The Arlington Conservation Council highlighted light pollution at Arlington’s 4th of July Parade, earning Best Non-Commercial Float for their "Turn on the Night" entry. Using scavenged materials, they aimed to promote the Dark Sky movement, advocating for reduced artificial lighting to preserve night skies and benefit the environment.

Jun 15 2018, MARSHALL HINSLEY

Monarch gardens give wings to classroom lessons in Denton

STEAMGrown Gardens, a Denton nonprofit founded by Jen Bailey, aims to bolster monarch butterfly habitats at underfunded schools while aligning with Texas's STEAM curriculum. The initiative involves grants and volunteer support for creating wildflower gardens that serve as educational tools and help boost student engagement and ecological knowledge.

May 25 2018, MINNIE PAYNE

Laura Bush aims to spur Texas conservation

Former First Lady Laura Bush inspects the monarch station at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, a project of her nonprofit Texan by Nature. Photos courtesy of Texan by Nature.

May 25, 2018

Lady Bird Johnson was an advocate for conservation who inspired the Highway Beautification Act and founded the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Now a fellow First Lady from Texas is following in her footsteps.

May 05 2018, JULIE THIBODEAUX

DFW wins second place in global bioblitz

DFW secured second place globally in the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge, with participants documenting over 2,500 species across 34,000 observations. Local nature enthusiasts, including Tracy Fandre, who logged the most observations, and Sam Kieschnick, who identified the most species, showcased the Metroplex's rich biodiversity.

Apr 24 2018, JULIE THIBODEAUX

North Texans gearing up for City Nature Challenge

North Texans are preparing for the City Nature Challenge, held April 27-30, to defend their title. Hosted by iNaturalist, the global event involves over 70 cities. DFW enthusiasts, led by Sam Kieschnick, aim to record the highest number of local plant and animal observations.

Apr 23 2018, JULIE THIBODEAUX

Film depicts 'albatross' of plastic consumption

Seattle-based photographer Chris Jordan spent eight years creating the film "Albatross," documenting the impact of plastic consumption on albatrosses on Midway Island. It creatively explores humanity's crossroads without dictating solutions, offering the film for free on Earth Day and World Oceans Day.

Apr 09 2018, MARSHALL HINSLEY

Texas landowners paid to restore monarch habitat

The Monarch Butterfly Habitat Exchange, developed by multiple environmental organizations, offers incentives for Texas landowners to restore monarch butterfly habitats, combating significant population decline. The program finances habitat restoration from Mexico to Canada via crowdsourcing, increasing monarch populations while providing economic benefits to landowners and contributors.