The Devils River Conservancy

08/18/2026

Join us tomorrow on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol, starting at 8AM, to support HCPC and other partners in pressing pause on the proposed 765kV transmission lines! DRC’s Executive Director, Romey Swanson, will be speaking on behalf of the Devils River Basin and what is at risk if the PUC approves the application for the Howard-Solstice transmission line project. Opening remarks begin at 8:30AM.

‼️IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE NEEDED‼️

📣WEDNESDAY 8/19 - There’s a House Committee on State Affairs meeting on 765kV lines and Data Centers. HCPC is hosting a rally on the South Steps of the Capitol 8AM-11AM!

💪See y’all in Austin!

08/17/2026

August 16, 2026: New World screwworm was detected in a sheep in Val Verde County, Texas.

Terrell and Brewster counties also currently have active livestock cases. Please stay vigilant in checking your livestock and pets and report any observations of maggots in open wounds.

Additional Updates:
➡️ Earlier in August, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the topical application of CLiK Extra wound spray to prevent NWS infestations in sheep, goats, cattle, swine, and camelids, as well as captive and captured wildlife species including cervids like deer and elk, bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. This wound spray is available over the counter and should be applied at the time of wound appearance or creation (e.g. dehorning, ear tagging, castration, shearing, etc.). This spray does not treat NWS; if a wound is already infested, contact your veterinarian to determine treatment.

Please note CliK Extra wound spray does not kill NWS larvae but instead acts as a growth regulator that disrupts their development, preventing them from causing tissue damage to the host animal.

➡️ The FDA issued a separate emergency use authorization for Simparica TRIO to treat NWS in dogs and puppies. Unlike the aforementioned wound spray for livestock, this medication is not preventative; rather it can be prescribed by a veterinarian to treat an active infestation. Simparica TRIO has been approved by the FDA to treat heartworm, flea, and tick infestations in dogs since 2020.

🔗 To ensure you are prepared for NWS, visit devilsriverconservancy.org/2026-screwworm for information and resources on this issue, including who to contact to report an observation.

📷 Judy Gallagher, CC by 2.0

08/10/2026

As we get closer to Texas Nature Trivia, we want to give a special thanks to our amazing sponsors! 🌿 Texas Nature Trivia is THIS Sunday, and we can't wait to see you there! 🦎🦉🌵

07/31/2026

Last day to order your Dark Skies Poncho!

This custom-embroidered design celebrates the dark skies over the Devils River that people have experienced there for thousands of years. DRC and our partners like DarkSky Texas want to ensure future generations have the same opportunity by protecting our wild places from increasing light pollution.

The good news is we can do it together! After all, light pollution is the easiest form of pollution to reverse and darker night skies benefit people, wildlife, and the world we share.

The preorder closes today, July 31st, so order yours now to wear at your next star party. Link in bio or visit our online store at devilsriverconservancy.org.

Proceeds from DRC merch sales support our mission to protect the Devils River and surrounding landscape, including the night sky overhead.

07/30/2026

We're just two weeks away from Texas Nature Trivia at The Brewtorium! 💧🍻

Join us for a fun afternoon supporting conservation across Texas, competing with friends, and the chance to win awesome prizes!

Social hour begins at 1 pm, with trivia kicking off at 2 pm. RSVP https://www.texaslandconservancy.org/events/texas-nature-trivia-austin-2026

07/27/2026

Introducing the DRC Custom Poncho: Dark Skies Special Edition!

DRC is releasing a fresh, custom-embroidered design that both celebrates the darkness of the night sky over the Devils River AND highlights the importance of preserving it.

The Del Norte Unit of the Devils River State Natural Area is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, one of only a handful in Texas, but that designation can be lost if we fail to protect it from encroaching light pollution. Visit darkskytexas.org to learn more about what you can do to help preserve dark skies in our wild places as well as restore them in our communities!

This exclusive design features two of the night sky’s most iconic asterisms—the Big Dipper (part of the Ursa Major constellation) and the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor). As they do in the sky, the embroidered stars will align across the shirt so the Big Dipper’s “pointer stars” lead your eye directly to Polaris, the North Star, on the end of the Little Dipper’s handle. For thousands of years, this fixed beacon has guided travelers in the Devils River Basin and across the northern hemisphere.

The details:
🫶 Shirt by Poncho
🙌 Embroidery by Black Sea Press
🤌 Style: Western pearl snap button-down
👉 Choose color: navy or black
👉 Choose sleeve length: long or short

This limited-edition preorder will be open through Friday, July 31st, 2026. After that date, we will not be offering the Dark Skies design again for the foreseeable future.

Preorder yours today while the stars are aligned! Link in bio or visit our online store at devilsriverconservancy.org.

Proceeds from DRC merch sales support our mission to protect the Devils River and surrounding landscape, including the night sky overhead.

07/17/2026

We have a fresh trivia question to ring in the weekend and this one’s for all the botany and etymology enthusiasts out there!

Comment with your answer, and then sign up for Texas Nature Trivia to truly put your nature knowledge to the test: www.texaslandconservancy.org/events/texas-nature-trivia-austin-2026

🗓️ Sunday, August 16, 2026
🕐 Doors open at 1PM, trivia starts at 2
📍 The Brewtorium Brewery & Kitchen in Austin 🍻🥨😌

While we all know bragging rights are victory enough, the top three teams will also win a fantastic prize package from one of our three prize sponsors, all local to Austin!
Live Love Paddle
Crux Climbing Center
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

So bring your friends and your A-game, and we’ll see you there.

07/02/2026

Put your answer in the comments below. 👇🦎
Put your wildlife and outdoor knowledge to the test at Texas Nature Trivia for a chance to win great prizes while supporting Texas conservation efforts. 🍻 Trivia kicks off at 2 PM, so gather your team and join us for an afternoon of nature, friendly competition, and good times.
RSVP at https://www.texaslandconservancy.org/events/texas-nature-trivia-austin-2026

06/04/2026

June 4, 2026: Yesterday’s first confirmed case of New World Screwworm in the U.S. in over 40 years was detected 90 miles southwest of San Antonio in a young calf. This means every Texan needs to know what to look for and who to call.

New World Screwworm (NWS) is a species of parasitic blowfly whose larvae feed on living tissue rather than dead. This can lead to secondary infections and the death of the infested host animal if left untreated. Maggots observed in wounds on living mammals, including humans, and birds need to be reported immediately.

Vigilance is the first line of defense. Now is the time to become informed on how to identify and immediately report infestations in livestock, wildlife, and pets. DRC recently partnered with the Texas Wildlife Association to host a webinar on this topic, with actionable information provided by Andrew Earl, TWA’s Director of Conservation, and Dr. Sonja Swiger, Extension Entomologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M University Professor.

🎞️ Watch the webinar recording now at devilsriverconservancy.org/2026-screwworm for an in-depth primer on this issue. Additional resources are provided at the bottom of the webpage.

New World Screwworm detections in Texas are expected to increase in the coming months. Comprehensive monitoring, timely reporting, and shared knowledge will reduce harm to livestock, wildlife, pets, and people. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors so we can create an effective monitoring network and be good stewards of the animals we manage, both domestic and wild. 🤝

NWS 📷: Judy Gallagher, CC by 2.0