Restoring Prairies, Black Bears & Plains Playas | Texas Parks & Wildlife Series (Full Episode)

Episode 4, Season 39 of Texas Parks & Wildlife, a weekly PBS series about the great outdoors. An orphaned black bear cub is released at Devils River State Natural Area. Landowners restore native prairies in Fayette County. Learn how playa lakes provide water and wildlife habitat to the Southern Plains. Two Bears Go Home - 1:20 A mother black bear is killed in Del Rio, making an orphan of her cub, while a second bear is rescued from other perils. Both bears are rehabilitated at a wildlife rescue facility in New Mexico and returned to Texas in a much safer spot to roam—Devils River State Natural Area. Lone Star Land Steward: Kocurek Farm - 7:14 Once spanning millions of acres across Texas, native prairies now only make up a small portion of the state. Gary and Diana Kocurek have devoted hundreds of hours to restore live oak savannah and blackland prairie habitats on their small piece of property in Fayette County. And they hope the restoration movement spreads beyond their property line. Government Canyon State Natural Area - 10:11 Hit the trails at Government Canyon State Natural Area, with hiking, biking, and birding. And see what makes this 12,000-acre wild urban escape unique. Playas for the Plains - 14:13 Many playa lakes of the Southern Plains have been plowed under cropland, silted over, or diverted into irrigation pits. But the value of these shallow lakes for groundwater recharge and wildlife habitat has landowners and conservation groups working together to restore playa lakes for the Plains and the future of its economy and biodiversity. Postcard From Texas: On the Edwards Plateau - 24:08 Meditate on the details of the natural landscape of the Edwards Plateau. Chapters: Intro - 00:00 Bear Release - 1:20 Kocurek Farm - 7:14 Government Canyon State Natural Area - 10:11 Playas for the Plains - 14:13 Edwards Plateau - 24:08 Stories from this episode:    • Two Bears Go Home      • Kocurek Farm - 2023 Lone Star Land Steward      • Government Canyon State Natural Area      • Playas for the Plains      • Edwards Plateau - Postcard From Texas   Episode 4, Season 39, Program 3204 Air Dates: October 29 - November 4 & April 28 - May 4, 2024 When to watch on Texas PBS stations: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/tv/t... Join us on Facebook:   / texasparksandwildlife   Join us on Instagram:   / texasparkswildlife   #texasstateparks #stateparks #statepark #outdooradventure #texasoutdoors #outdoors #texas #nature #documentary #fullepisode