True Green - Texas Fish & Game

True Green - Texas Fish & Game - December 2012

True Green - December 2012

By Texas Fish and Game Staff

Angler Lands ’Camouflage’ Bass

New York angler Nick Giamei caught and released an interesting-looking, 18-inch largemouth bass with "camouflage" coloring in early October.

Camo-patterned largemouth bass. photo: Courtesy Nick Giamei

"It looked really healthy," Giamei told the Syracuse Post-Standard. "It definitely had some unique markings. I caught a couple of others that day with tags, but no others had markings."

He said he has caught bass before that had black spots on their tails or lips, "but nothing like this guy."

TPWD Stocks More Grass Carp in Lake Austin

TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTment planted more than 11,000 Asian grass carp into Lake Austin over the summer, and this autumn dumped another 6000 into the lake to reduce hydrilla.

The autumn stocking was to replace fish that died in order to maintain a target population of 50 fish per acre of hydrilla, a rate that has controlled hydrilla in the past.

Photo: Wikimedia commons

With the added number of fish, the lake should now have around 40,000 Asian carp.

Scent Control Polution?

A Sweden-based researcher claims silver nanoparticles can have a severe environmental impact if their utilization in clothing continues to increase.

The Chalmers University of Technology study declares if everyone buys one silver nanoparticle-treated sock a year, the silver concentration in wastewater treatment plant sludge can double. If the sludge is subsequently used as fertilizer, the silver can cause long-term damage to agricultural land.

Chalmers researcher Rickard Arvidsson defended his doctoral thesis, which addressed the risks associated with nanomaterials such as silver.

Silver nanoparticles have an antibacterial effect, and are used in a variety of consumer products such as workout and hunting clothing to prevent the smell of sweat. Arvidsson claims when the clothes are washed, nanoparticles are released and enter wastewater treatment plants. The particles release silver ions that cannot be broken down at wastewater treatment plants or in nature, and are toxic to many organisms.

"Using silver in clothing is a new technology, and it is still difficult to ascertain patterns for how much is being used," Arvidsson said. "However, if the negative environmental impact is to be avoided, either the silver concentration in clothing or consumption of silver nanoparticle-treated clothing must be limited."

Camp Spawns Young Conservationists

Twenty "cadets," aged 13-17, received a five-day crash course in hands-on waterfowl and wetland ecology and management during the inaugural Texas Brigades Waterfowl Brigade. The youth were hosted by long-time Ducks Unlimited Major Sponsor Dr. MacFarlane at his Big Woods on The Trinity, July 22-26.

Top resource professionals in the state covered a variety of subjects, from wetland habitat management to hunter education and dog training.

The intense program started as early as 6:00 a.m. and ended as late as midnight. From early morning "wildlife sits," where cadets rise in the pre-dawn to observe and record wildlife observations at a wetland to late night group team building activities, the days can be an 18-hour blur of activities that rivals that of many college level wildlife courses.

"You would think that getting teenagers out of bed that early in the summer time would be difficult, but the intensity and learning is mixed with fun and camaraderie that motivates the cadets to push themselves and each other," said DU Manger of Conservation Programs Todd Merendino. "Texas Brigades is motivating and developing the next generation of natural resource ambassadors and providing them with the necessary skills to become the conservation leaders of tomorrow."

The Texas Brigades mission is to educate and empower youths with leadership skills and knowledge in wildlife, fisheries, and land stewardship to become conservation ambassadors. Although this was the first Waterfowl Brigade, the Texas Brigades program has been going strong for 20 years.

Four different camps - Bobwhite Brigade, Buckskin Brigade, Bass Brigade, and Waterfowl Brigade - present youth the opportunity to advance their knowledge related to specific popular game species and their individual habitats.

The Texas Brigades is a 501c3 organization supported by a diverse group of partners, including state and federal agencies, individual resource professionals, private landowners, businesses, and other conservation groups, such as Ducks Unlimited.

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