Kayaking in the City

Paddle a kayak on one of the waterways that flow through cities in Texas. These user-friendly boats are a great way to enjoy nature, wildlife, skyline views, history and more. Read about paddle outings and tours across the state in this piece for Texas Parks & Wildlife.  

Debunking Myths about Oysters

 One of those myths is that you can only eat oysters from September to April (months with an 'r' in them). But now that Texas allows oyster farming, we can enjoy this coastal delicacy year-round. Read all about it here. 

Bottled water versus tap

Bottled water sales are way, way up, thanks in part to marketing claims that it is cleaner than tap water. But drinking from plastic poses a real danger, according to experts and studies. Read about it in this piece for The Revelator. 

What to know about poison ivy

Texas has an amazing variety and abundance of plants, from towering pines to rolling prairie grasses and desert cacti. One plant no one wants to encounter, though, is poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). Read what you need to know about it in this piece from Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine.

Incredible journeys: Whooping cranes

 A population of whooping cranes migrates between Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, and the Texas coast. These highly endangered birds have slowly but surely been increasing in numbers, but they need protection along their route and at both ends. Read more in this piece for The Revelator. 

Black-tailed jackrabbits

Ears that can stand 7 inches tall help jackrabbits dissipate heat and listen for predators like hawks and coyotes. Hind feet that are just as long enable speeds up to 40 mph to escape them. Read more about these animals - actually hares and not rabbits - in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine.

Replacing disposable plastics with reusables

 This piece in my series on the problems of plastic pollution for The Revelator looks at efforts to replace single-use plastics with reusable items.