Texas Parks and Wildlife

Seven Summer Safety Solutions to Protect from the Texas Heat

June 24, 2026 – A Texas June marks the beginning of increased temperatures and the risk of heat-related illness, so Texas State Park staff are presenting seven tips to help visitors beat the heat and enjoy the beauty the state has to offer.

In 2025, 169 heat-related incidents were reported across Texas’s state parks, with six involving pets.

As we approach peak heat season, here are the top seven hacks to help reduce the risk of heat-related illness:

TPWD Details Fatal Sabine River Boating Incident

June 12, 2026 - Texas Game Wardens in Shelby and Sabine counties responded to a single-vessel incident on the Sabine River near Joaquin around 2:30pm Saturday, June 6.

A witness reported that Matthew Freeman [Mathews], 21, of San Augustine, was operating a flat-bottom boat at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vessel and collided with a tree. Freeman was ejected from the vessel and did not resurface. He was wearing the vessel’s emergency engine cut-off switch lanyard but was not wearing a personal flotation device.

Free Fishing Day in Texas is Set for June 6

June 3, 2026 - The annual Texas tradition of Free Fishing Day arrives at public waterways throughout the state on Saturday, June 6. Texans and out-of-state visitors can cast their lines without a fishing license on a public waterway each year on the first Saturday in June.

Texas Game Wardens: Leave Risk at the Ramp this Memorial Day Weekend

May 22, 2026 – With Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start to summer boating season, Texas Game Wardens are preparing for one of the busiest boating weekends of the year and reminding Texans and visitors alike to put safety first before heading out on the water.

Hit the Water, Not the Headlines During National Water Safety Month

Texas Game Wardens report most incidents, fatalities preventable with basic safety measures

May 13, 2026 – As temperatures rise across Texas, more people will head to lakes, rivers and coastal waters to cool off. May is National Water Safety Month, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) reminds Texans that simple precautions can prevent injuries and save lives.

Look, Don’t Touch — Leave Baby Wildlife Where You Find Them

April 29, 2026 — Warmer weather across Texas means more time outdoors and more encounters with wildlife. Spring and early summer are also when many species give birth and raise their young, which can lead to confusion when animals appear to be alone.

Each year, well-meaning Texans pick up young wildlife, especially fawns and baby birds, believing they have been abandoned. In most cases, that is not true. Removing these animals from the wild can do more harm than good and, in many cases, is against the law.

Great Texas Birding Classic, Great Texas Wildlife Trails Celebrate 30th Anniversary

April 13, 2026 — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is encouraging all birders and outdoor enthusiasts from across Texas and beyond to join the 30th annual Great Texas Birding Classic, a beloved birdwatching event that celebrates birds, conservation and community.

TPWD Encourages Texas Anglers and Boaters to Stay Clear of Coastal Waterbird Rookeries

April 10, 2026 - With summer and peak boating season just around the corner, iconic coastal birds like brown pelicans, roseate spoonbills, black skimmers and reddish egrets begin to utilize small, inshore nesting islands, also called rookeries, along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Options Abound at Texas State Parks for Spring Break

March 11, 2026 — For many Texans, spring break is around the corner, and those planning their travel routes and trips should take a gander at the happenings at the more than 89 Texas State Parks.

“Go Early and Go Often” — Fair Number of Gobblers, Jakes on the Landscape for the 2026 Spring Wild Turkey Season

February 27, 2026 — Hunters can expect to see an abundance of two and three-year-old gobblers for the 2026 spring turkey season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recorded good production through summer turkey surveys in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

After another year of good production and recruitment, hunters can expect a temporary spillover of birds into landscapes where they are not always found. Gobblers are expected to spread out in search of hens, hens in search of nesting cover and young birds moving across the landscape looking for new areas to occupy.

Shelby County Today

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