TPWD
You Can Help Texas Wildlife
We need Texas-sized action
Now, more than ever, broad scale action is needed for wildlife and their habitats—from the East Texas Pineywoods, to the Coastal Prairies, the South Texas Plains, and the western Trans-Pecos.
All Texans and communities have an important role to play—whether we live or work in downtown Houston or Dallas-Fort Worth, in the Texas countryside, or all the places in between.
As an individual, here's a few ways below you can help wildlife and the land and waters they depend on.
Visit our Species of Greatest Conservation Need page to learn more about at-risk wildlife in Texas.
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Land Restoration & Habitat Management
In Texas's unique ecoregions across the state, habitat degradation, the loss of native plant communities, and invasive and non-native species have negatively impacted many wildlife, fish, and plant species.
If you own or manage land, and want to get started in restoration and habitat management for native wildlife, a good place to begin is to reach out to your local TPWD Wildlife Biologist.
Find yours HERE.
Native Plants for Wildlife
No matter where you live or work, landscaping and gardening with native plants is one of the most impactful things you can do locally for wildlife. For example, many of our at-risk pollinators are in decline due to a loss of native host plants and nectar producing plants. Native plants also produce the nectar, seed, fruit, and insects that at-risk songbirds need to thrive—they're nature's bird feeder!
Connect with your local Texas Master Naturalist or Native Plant Society of Texas Chapter to find out the best plants for your area and where to get them.
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Land Protection
Loss and fragmentation of habitat is the biggest culprit of wildlife declines across the globe, including here in Texas.
You can support Texas land trusts who protect our special lands across the state. If you are a Texas landowner, you can reach out to a land trust to inquire about voluntary conservation easements. Conservation easements can help protect your properties legacy into the future.
Check out the land trusts in our Alliance and the Texas Land Trust Council to locate a land trust working in your region.
Lights Out for Wildlife
Every spring and fall, migratory songbirds soar across Texas in the hundreds of millions—a super highway of birds! Unfortunately, birds are attracted to light, so brightly-lit homes and buildings can confuse and disorient them. They often collide with buildings and windows. We lose up to one billion birds to collisions in the US every year.
To help birds safely fly through Texas skies, join thousands of Texans in going Lights Out during peak spring and fall migration from 11 PM to 6 AM at your home and places of business. Visit Lights our For Wildlife and Lights Out, Texas! for more information.
Reduce Spread of Invasive Species
Invasive species are a significant threat to almost half of the native U.S. species currently listed as federally endangered.
An invasive species can spread and take over ecosystems, decrease biodiversity by threatening native plants and animals, and can be incredibly costly to our economy.
Visit texasinvasives.org to learn more about invasive species and how you can take action to stop the spread such as cleaning, draining, and drying your boat every time you leave a body of water, and being a "plantwise" gardener.
Photo: Invasive Zebra Mussel, Thirdwavephoto, CC BY 4.0
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Be Water Smart for Wildlife
From freshwater fish to coastal birds, our flowing streams, rivers, and estuaries support diverse fish and wildlife. They're also the backbone of productive bays, healthy fisheries, and a strong coastal economy.
Sadly, the health of our waterways are at serious risk of flow depletion. Addressing water loss is one of the most effective ways we can ensure we have enough water for both a growing population, and wildlife.
A few ways you can help is by using less water, installing water-efficient products and appliances, fixing leaks, rainwater harvesting, and creating a water-smart, wildlife-friendly, native landscape.
Support and Volunteer
The Texas organizations in our state Alliance need your support to help continue their critical work protecting our wildlife and natural resources in Texas.
Donate to an organization that speaks to your interests, and/or sign up to volunteer.
From helping with habitat management to educating others about wildlife and nature—volunteering feels good, you can meet like-minded folks, and make a big, local impact!
Photo: Rachel Rommel
Get a Conservation License Plate
Whether you're mad about Monarchs, heart the "Horny Toad", or are smitten about snakes, choose from the "Wild for Texas Collection" to help support research and conservation for Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Texas.
Get your conservation license plate HERE.
Photo: TPWD
Be a Voice for Wildlife
Across the country, states currently receive less than 5% of what's needed annually to implement state wildlife action plan's and help conserve at-risk wildlife, before they become endangered.
You can be a champion for wildlife by reaching out to your Congressmembers and asking them to support passage of the bipartisan Recovering America's Wildlife Act . This bill would provide the dedicated funding needed to take broad-scale action for wildlife. Learn how to be a voice for wildlife HERE.