Athens -

A ribbon of giant salvinia and water hyacinth 200 to 300 yards wide and more than a mile long is floating down the middle of Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Austin -

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Nov. 5 acted to place 15 of the 50 known Texas species of freshwater mussels on the state threatened list. Currently, state fisheries regulations allow harvest of most of these mussels, though practically none of them ever get large enough for harvest. The listing makes it a Class C misdemeanor to kill or collect them.

Athens -

Photographs representing the best work of outdoor photographers from across the nation will be on display at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center through December 13.

Athens -

Students from Dream Art Academy in Carrollton and Richland High School swept six of the top 12 places in the Texas Junior Duck Stamp competition, including Best of Show.

MINNEAPOLIS -

FLW Outdoors announced Wednesday that Cabela's, the World's Foremost Outfitter®, has formed a major partnership across all platforms of FLW Outdoors and its 189 tournaments, including a significant contingency award program. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

San Antonio -

Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) is celebrating hunters during Hunter Appreciation Month! From wildlife conservation to economically supporting our local, state and national communities, hunters take better care of our planet than any other group of people and TTHA wants to say, "Thanks!"

LIZELLA, GEORGIA -

Redfish anglers from Texas to North Carolina and surrounding regions will converge on Orange Beach, Alabama, November 6-7 for the IFA Redfish Tour Championship tournament, the culminating event of the tour's 2009 season.

Austin -

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved new rules allowing the culture and sale of water spinach by permit in Texas. Water spinach is a restricted exotic plant.

Austin -

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff briefed the Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Nov. 4 on possible changes designed to increase recreational opportunity and further enhance the state’s fish and wildlife resources.

Texas -

Canada and a number of U.S. states have imposed movement restrictions or additional entry requirements for horses from Texas after equine piroplasmosis, a tick-transmitted blood disease of equine animals, such as horses, donkeys, mules and zebras, was detected in South Texas in mid-October.  Equine piroplasmosis may be carried and transmitted by as many as 15 species of ticks.  Although ticks have been collected from the South Texas ranch for testing, final results are not complete, and it is not known whether any of the ticks can serve as a host for the disease.