Passport to Texas

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"]Winter Trout Stocking[/caption] Passport to Texas with support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program If you’re an angler who likes to eat what you catch, then now’s the time to reel in a rainbow trout. 14— We stock them at a catchable and eatable size. They are good fighting fish; they’re relatively easy to catch. We usually stock them in smaller bodies of water, so they’re a good fishing, catching opportunity and good eating opportunity as well. Carl Kittle (kitl) is a program director for Inland Fisheries, and oversees winter trout stocking in Texas. Distribution began this month and continues through February 2013. 17 – We’ve been stocking [rainbow] trout around Texas for almost 40 years. One interesting note about trout is that we often say there are no established populations of trout in Texas, but actually, way out west in the Davis Mountains there’s a small, tiny stream at high enough elevation that there is a reproducing population of rainbow trout. In the rest for the state, however, it’s just too hot to sustain rainbow trout populations year round, and that’s why we will stock up to 275-thousand in 120-130 locations this year…including urban areas. 11 – And we have a special program; we actually stock somewhat larger trout in urban areas in our Neighborhood Fishin’ Program. And that’s something that you can specifically look for on our web page. With the winter holidays here, it’s is a great time go fishing with the kids. Find the stocking schedule and locations at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The Wildlife and sport fish restoration program supports our series and funds rainbow trout stocking in Texas… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"]Angler with Rainbow Trout [/caption] Passport to Texas with support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program We’re in the midst of the holiday season, and what better way to celebrate than with rainbows – rainbow trout, that is. 13— We do winter stockings when the water temperatures permit it, to provide an opportunity for anglers to catch trout in Texas. It’s a species of fish that anglers wouldn’t catch otherwise, so we stock them, and we intend them all to be caught out during the season. Carl Kittle is a program director for Inland Fisheries. Last year’s severe drought meant less water and less water meant fewer trout. But this year looks better. 13 – This year, things are pretty well back to normal. It’s very dry out west, but it looks like our normal level of stocking in over 120 sites will happen. In fact, we’re looking to stock about 130 sites this year. Texas Parks and Wildlife plans to distribute approximately 275,000 rainbow trout amongst the various locations. 07 – We publish a schedule on the Texas parks and Wildlife Department webpage. Look for the winter trout stocking link. We stock rainbows in winter because these fish cannot survive our hot summers. So, when you reel one in this winter, take it home and eat it. We have a recipe for you to try at www.passporttotexas.org. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti. _________________________________________________ Trout Amandine by Chef Cindy Haenel Ingredients 8 (4-ounce) lake or rainbow trout fillets 1 egg 1 cup milk 1 cup flour Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 4 tablespoons butter 1 cup (about 6 ounces) sliced, blanched almonds Handful fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped 1 lemon, wedged Directions Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Combine egg and milk in a tin pie plate, beat with a fork. Place a cup of flour in a second pie tin and season well with salt and sparingly with pepper. Coat trout fillets in egg and milk, then in seasoned flour. Collect fillets on a plate until all of them are dredged and ready to be cooked. Add 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil to your skillet. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons butter to the pan. When the butter foams, add trout and gently saute 4 fillets for 2 or 3 minutes on each side, until golden. Transfer trout fillets to warm platter in oven. Return pan to the stove and add 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin oil and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter. When butter foams, repeat cooking process. When all of the trout is cooked, add last tablespoon of butter to the pan. When the butter melts, add almonds and brown until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove trout from oven and pour almonds over the platter. Garnish platter with chopped parsley, lemon wedges, and serve immediately. Serves 4

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Painting by Viggo Johansen (1891)[/caption] This is Passport to Texas The custom of decorating trees for Christmas took root in German villages during the sixteenth century. 07—A lot of Germans, as you know, settled Texas. And they brought a tradition with them of the tabletop Christmas tree. Cynthia Brandimarte is program director for Texas historic sites. 12—When you look at interior photographs of Texas houses, you see many tabletop Christmas trees ornamented for the season, particularly in German households in the late nineteenth century Texas. Ornaments were handmade then, and small gifts often dangled from branches. Eventually, the tabletop conifer gave way to larger trees that became "floor models," and the decorations sometimes mirrored the day's events. 22—You saw more and more seven or eight feet trees that were placed on the floor. And because we had just ended the Spanish American war in victory, there was a fashion in the early part of the twentieth century to decorate trees with a few American flags here and there. We have photographic evidence for that. If you celebrate Christmas, we wish you a joyous holiday. And if you do not, then it’s the perfect opportunity to spend time in nature, because Life’s Better Outside. That’s our show… we record our series at the Block House in Austin, Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Christmas Tree Lighting at LBJ State Park and Historic Site, photo by Bryan Frazier[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Across Texas state parks and historic sites are celebrating the holiday season. Our state park Guide Bryan Frazier has the inside scoop on holiday fun. 61— Christmas and the holiday season is one of the most popular times to visit a state park – and rightfully so. Most of the parks will decorate or have some holiday event. But there are several that are more signature events around the state. And this year we’ve got at LBJ State Park and Historic Site it’s their Centennial Celebration, which would have been the 100th birthday of Lady Bird. And we’re also doing the lighting of the state Christmas tree – it’s their 43rd year for that. It’s a tradition here in Central Texas. And then at Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site, they’ve changed up what’s a very popular event and given people an even greater reason to go there. Having Santa Claus and a hay wagon there and craft stations around Barrington Farm that would have been happening in the 1850s. And you can see all of those Christmas experiences from the 19th Century –so that’s a great event. And we have caroling events at Cedar Hill State Park and inside Longhorn Cavern State Park. Just check the activities page at texasstateparks.org or there are links throughout that page to find out these various events. Thanks, Bryan. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Chris Holmes (far left) with young outdoor enthusiasts.[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Chris Holmes, Director Interpretive Services, was honored recently by Texas Parks and Wildlife for his work with the Texas Outdoor Family program. And you can see his story this month on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS series. Producer: Karen Loke. 60— When he was awarded this employee award, it was for all of his work with the program Called Texas Outdoor Family Workshop. My real passion is to get people back into our parks. I think they’re such valuable places in Texas. And what he does is get people back into our state parks that have already taken a workshop with us; we’ve taught them how to camp, how to put up a tent – all these things you can do at most of our state parks. And once you register with a workshop, you get an ID, and we can find out if you come back to a park. And Chris says, based on the information they’ve gathered so far, there’s a 40% return. So, that’s outstanding; and that’s why he won an award. He’s probably the best thing the British have ever given to the United States. He loves his job and he loves camping – he’s so enthusiastic about what he does. Just so dedicated to getting people into our parks. Believes our parks are the best places in the world. So, what do you want people to know about Chris after watching this? What do you hope they take away from this? Well, in his honor, I hope they visit a state park. Great idea…thanks, Karen. Catch the show with Chris Holmes this week (Dec. 9-15) on your PBS station. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Photo and caption by Michael Mezeul II (from National Geographic Photo Contest 2012) The Milky Way graces the west Texas night sky over Fort Griffin. Fort Griffin was a Cavalry fort that was established in the late 1860s to provide settlers protection from Kiowa and Comanche Indian raids. The view of the night sky, from past to present, remains the same. Location: Albany, Texas [/caption] This is Passport to Texas A comfy chair, a hot beverage, and a good read make a winter’s day pure pleasure. You’re on your own with the chair and beverage, but Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine has you covered with the reading. Editor, Louie Bond. 62— Well, I always like to think of the deep winter issues as the ones you want to snuggle up and spend some time reading. So we put a little smorgasbord of things in our January/February issue. And the cover story is by Russell Graves, and it is about how to teach your kid how to love the outdoors, called "Dirty Nails and Goat Slobber". And it’s all about kids letting play in the dirt. And Russell is such a great person to write this article. He was Ag teacher of the year in Texas. He has two kids of his own who are great outdoorsmen. And he’s got six quick steps to teach your kid be a great outdoors person. And then, to counter that, we have this beautiful photo essay by our own Chase Fountain called "Into the Night", which is this whole variety of starscapes and light and all kinds of things that go bump in the night, and I think people are really going to enjoy that. And then our final feature this month is on pond management. Now who wouldn’t want to have their own pond in their backyard where they could just stick a line in, catch a fish, and while away a lazy afternoon? It’s a really wide variety of articles this month, and I think there’s going to be something in there to please everyone. Thanks, Louie. Look for the January/February issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine on newsstands. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

This is Passport to Texas It’s the holiday season, a time when many of us look for ways to reach out to those less fortunate. If you’re a hunter, the easiest way is by donating a deer to Hunters for the Hungry. 09—Once it’s [the deer is] donated, the meat is used by food pantries, food banks, and other food assistance providers that serve their local communities. Anitra Hendricks oversees the program. Meat processors across the state are participating in the program. Hunters just need to bring them their legally tagged and field-dressed deer. 14—There is a reduced processing fee for those who donate to the program. They pay the fee, they do receive a receipt for a possible tax deduction. The meat processor will grind the meat, package it, and then from there it goes to the food assistance provider. Find a list of participating processors on the Hunters for the Hungry website. Anitra says she is always on the lookout for more processors. 08— The have to be willing to do some minimal book-keeping as far as tracking donations and reporting that to us at the end of the season. It’s a small inconvenience for the good it provides to hungry children, elderly and families during the holidays. The Wildlife and Sport Fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

This is Passport to Texas Regular deer season continues through January 6th in the north and January 20th in the south. And with an estimated 3 to 4 million white tailed deer in Texas, hunting is necessary to manage their population. If your freezer is already full, but you still have a tag you want to use, consider donating your next deer to Hunters for the Hungry. 08—Hunters for the hungry is a statewide venison donation program that allows hunters to donate their extra venison. Anitra Hendricks oversees the program, and says charitable food assistance providers receive the donated venison as two pound packages of ground meat. Last season Texas hunters donated more than 153-thousand pounds of venison to the program. 04—So [that comes to] just a little over 600-thusand quarter pound servings. The average trimmed weight of a donated deer is about 40 pounds of usable meat. By that account, Texas hunters donated just over 38-hundred animals. Their generosity fed children, elderly, and families in need. 11—What we have heard from the agencies is that in many cases, the venison that they receive through Hunters for the Hungry, is the only meat –fresh meat—that they may receive on a limited basis. More about Hunters for the hungry and how to donate to the program on tomorrow’s show. The Wildlife and Sport Fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Texas State Parks Christmas Ornaments 2012[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Each December, Texas Parks and Wildlife makes available a delicate laser cut, gold-plated collectible Christmas ornament that celebrates the state’s parks and historic sites. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, talks about this year’s offering. 53— Well, this year. We’ve got three. And you can purchase them individually, or you can purchase them as a set. And they’re unique, because this year they’re carved out of wood. They’re usually a nice brass little trinket, and this year, the shape is similar but they’re laser carved with amazing detail of Lighthouse Rock from Palo Duro Canyon, and one of the Caddo Lake cabins, and the San Jacinto Monument, so they’re really some of our flagship parks and historic sites. And it’s a new look with them carved out of wood. And so, maybe people who’ve ordered them in the past and didn’t want one that looked similar – this is the year to order them. And you can only get them through the customer service center by calling 512.389.8900. And there are small shipping costs to go along with that, but check that out at texasstateparks.org. You can find out all about it, see the images; I think this is one you’re going to want to get. Thanks, Bryan. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Texas Flower Garden Banks[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Sometimes freezes kill fish and coral in the Gulf. If researchers prove a connection between the same species in warmer Caribbean waters, they’ll have a resource for restoring losses. TV Producer Bruce Biermann says the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV show examines this issue. This is our 25th year going to Mexico. Texas A&M University has been studying the waters off the coast of the Yucatan, and the waters off the Texas coast, and comparing down to a very small genetic level the fish and the coral. What we’re just really looking for is trying to get genetic evidence that supports that the current that comes out of the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico is the ultimate source of populations in the Gulf of Mexico. I followed Texas A & M to the Caribbean waters off the coast of the Yucatan. They were doing studies on a couple kinds of fish and a couple kinds of coral. Taking samples. Then they came back up here to Texas to our coral reef – the Flower Garden Bank – which is a hundred miles of the Texas Louisiana Border. And they took the exact same species of samples from there, compared them, and sure enough at a genetic level they are absolutely identical. We have two different alleles for this gene, and it’s found in all three sites, which means that these three sites are, in fact, interconnected – that there is genetic exchange that takes place. There really is a Caribbean connection. The Caribbean Connection airs on PBS stations this week. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Attwater's Prairie Chicken, photo by www.fws.gov[/caption] Passport to Texas with Support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Corporate America and sports teams depend on good recruiting...something they have in common with the endangered Attwater's Prairie Chicken. :07 -- Historically, this bird went through periods of time when a population would be devastated, and then it would recruit from neighboring populations. But they've had to change their recruiting tactics, says Mark Klym, Adopt-a-Prairie Chicken Program coordinator. :02--Today those recruits have to come from the zoos. Development destroyed the prairie chicken's coastal habitat. We've gone from a million birds at the turn of the 20th century to fewer than 100 animals today. Currently Three small populations are maintained in the wild. :21--The bird is being reproduced for release. We are confident that we have enough birds that we can maintain these three populations now that we have in the wild. But there're biologists out there working with landowners every day trying to get land back in condition. And we have a number of landowners just waiting and asking for release of the birds on their land. Klym maintains the Attwater's Prairie Chicken will continue to rebound, and not go quietly into that good night. :08--We frequently get emails and calls asking when we expect this birds to go extinct. We don't expect it to go extinct. This is going to be another good news story. Learn about the adopt-a-prairie chicken program at passporttotexas.org. The Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series... For Texas Parks and Wildlife...I'm Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Chef Jesse Griffiths[/caption] This is Passport to Texas This Thanksgiving week is all about food. Starting with a head's up about wild game cooking segments coming up on the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV show. Producer, Whitney Bishop. 65-- We worked with bearded hipster, Jessie Griffiths. He's a local [chef] food expert. He's also an avid hunter and angler. And so we produced cooking segments with him where he shows you how to grill venison, how to fry redfish three ways, how to make teal yakatori, and feral hog tacos. So, why is it that TPW is producing segments on wild game cookery? Well, we've noticed there is really a growing interest in eating local food. People want to know where their food is coming from, so more people are getting interested in hunting and fishing ... Jesse Griffiths is the perfect bridge between the hunting world and the cooking world. And, so what do you want your viewers to come away with? Well, in addition to actually showing you how to make the recipe, we go into a little bit of background about each animal that he's working with; you get an appreciation for not just how to prepare it, but how it contributes to Texas. Where and when can people see these? These videos are all on our YouTube channel, we actually have a special playlist about Texas cooking. And then, they'll also be on our TV show in upcoming months. Thanks, Whitney That's our show for today'For Texas Parks and Wildlife...I'm Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Red Wolf, photo by TPWD[/caption] Passport to Texas with support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program The red wolf population once covered about a third of the southeast US, including Texas. By the late 1960S, the animals were nearly extinct. 07-- The only red wolves left were in a little corner of southeastern Texas and Southwestern Louisiana ... and there were only a few of them left. Russell Roe, managing editor of TPW magazine, wrote a story about red wolves for the December issue. Habitat loss, wolf eradication programs, and an influx of coyotes, caused their near demise. An Austin College professor, noting the decline, sounded the alarm. 28--Well, about the same time, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act, and the red wolf was one of the first species listed in the act. So, their first priority was to maintain the red wolf population where it was ... even though it was down to almost nothing, and the coyotes were still moving in. The realized that was not going to work, so they decided, this last ditch effort--the only way we're going to save the red wolf is by gathering them all up, putting them in captivity, with the hopes of reintroducing them in the wild. Researchers had their work cut out for them, as the wolves and coyotes had interbred. 19-- Once they collected what they thought were red wolves, they had maybe 40 they were pretty sure were red wolves. Once they got rid of what they thought might be hybrids, they were down to 17 pure red wolves. Of those, 14 were used in the captive breeding program. So, all the red wolves we have today came from those 14. Learn more when you read the December issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program program supports our series... For Texas Parks and Wildlife...I'm Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"]Image from http://swco.ttu.edu/[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine is celebrating its 70th anniversary and Editor Louie Bond is here to tell us more. 60-- We're so proud to present this 70th anniversary issue; and we have some great stories in it by people past and present who have been involved with the agency and the magazine -- including our own fearless leader, the Executive Director, Carter Smith, who has a wonderful little anecdote I thought I'd share with you. He said he started reading the magazine as far back as he could remember. He read his grandmother's issues. And his grandmother finally bought him a subscription, and he said it was likely that she was so tired of him pilfering them. He said 'Who could blame her? If I didn't run off with her copy each month, I'd rip out pictures of deer and bobcat and West Texas mountains and coastal sunrises. My love affair with our wild things and wild places was in no small part shaped by that early exposure to the stunning wildlife photography and essays on all things outdoors. I still read it cover to cover multiple times.' So, when you have a boss like that who supports your magazine this way, you can't help but be happy to celebrate 70 years. And I hope our readers will enjoy it. Thanks, Louie More information about the magazine and subscriptions at tpwmagazine.com. That's our show for today...For Texas Parks and Wildlife...I'm Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Camping at Palmetto State Park[/caption] This is Passport to Texas The outdoor industry association conducts yearly surveys to determine the state of the outdoors. And our State Park Guide Bryan Frasier says: the results are in. 66-- And we saw that camping is trending upward -- even camping in state parks. Almost half of these reservations for overnight camping were done inside state parks. And what was maybe the most encouraging news of all was that people with young children are more likely to camp and go outdoors -- significantly more, in fact. So that's great for the future of something that all of us hold near and dear who love the outdoors. And that is: taking families...taking children out there. Letting them connect with nature and see the world and the discovery that we have here..from the wildlife..to cooking outdoors and spending some family time. And to see these statistics and data and know that more people are enjoying that, and the mission that we have here at Texas Parks and Wildlife is being understood on some level by people and that they are really starting to this outdoor lifestyle: tent camping, RV camping, cabins -- it really doesn't matter what it is. Just a hike through the woods... but those things are growing and catching on in ways that gives us reason to be encouraged. Thanks, Bryan. That's our show for today...with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there's life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife...I'm Cecilia Nasti.