Nearly a century ago, wildlife biologists estimated there were about 500 desert bighorn sheep in Texas. Half a century later there were none. Today there are more than 800 of these majestic animals in the state and counting.

Texas game wardens today continue searching two North Texas lakes and an East Texas reservoir for victims of three, separate, single-vessel boating accidents.

The trumpeting sound of cranes overhead is a cherished sound of spring in Texas, but as endangered whooping cranes depart Texas this spring en route for breeding grounds in Canada, fewer birds will be making the trip.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted a series of wildlife and hunting related regulations that expand special buck antler restrictions and liberalize antlerless harvest opportunities in dozens of counties. The new rules take effect during the 2009-10 hunting seasons.

Archived audio from March 25-26 committee and commission meetings is available.

Texas Wildlife Association representatives were busy in Austin this week reviewing the record 7300-plus bills filed this session, presenting testimony at committee hearings, and preparing for next week's hearings on key issues such as eminent domain reform.

State legislators have filed over 6500 bills this session, an increase of over 25 percent from last session, and as many as 800 more bills are expected to be filed today in advance of this evening's filing deadline in Austin.

The Texas Master Naturalist program has reached 1 million volunteer service hours. This major milestone marks the 10th anniversary of the program, which began in Texas but has since given rise to a growing national movement.