Texas Parks & Wildlife will debut the Lost Pines Wildlife Habitat Day event at Bastrop State Park.

What to know

The event will take place on May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon with activities both in front of and behind the park’s refectory. Featuring hands-on, nature-based activities, a speaker series and educational booths, community members can dive deep into the unique Lost Pines habitat and how to help its preservation.

Madalyn Miller, interpreter and volunteer coordinator at Bastrop State Park, said attendees can expect a range of booths presented by wildlife, nature and conservation organizations.

How we got here


Miller said it's important to host an educational event about the ins and outs of the Lost Pines ecosystem due to its unique nature. She said some people have lived in the area a long time and still don’t know how special it is.

“With a lot of new people moving in, and even the people that have been here for a while, there are a lot of things that people have questions about," Miller said. "We want to make sure that we're sharing with everybody and that they can realize the unique place that they've either moved to or where they live."

The details

Some booth attractions to expect:
  • Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy will play sounds from Texas frogs, teach people how to identify them and teach about frogs in the local area
  • Texas Forest Service will provide kids' activities and a discussion about how to be firewise
  • Pines & Prairies Land Trust will host a guided walk on available trails and inform attendees about tools for conservation
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife for the San Marcos Endangered Species Center will share information about local endangered species and why certain species thrive in the Lost Pines area
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife will share information about the native plants in the Lost Pines ecosystem and have participants replant native plant species in the area
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Wildland Firefighters will bring a fire engine to teach attendees about prescribed fires and children will be able to dress up as a wildland firefighter
  • Lost Pines Master Naturalists will create a toad maze to show attendees the various dangers presented to toads throughout their life cycle
  • The Houston Zoo will bring a Houston toad and talk about their breeding program
The impact


Jessica Snider, assistant director of support services at Scouting America Capitol Area Council, said the Houston toad plays a key role in the Lost Pines ecosystem, but has been on the edge of extinction for some time now.

She said the Houston toad was the catalyst behind the idea for a wildlife habitat day.

“While the Houston toad is an important player and will be there in lots of different activities, just the uniqueness of the entire ecosystem is something that we want to help promote,” Snider said.

Get involved


Individuals who are interested in learning more about the Lost Pines habitat and learning how to support conservation efforts can look into programs and events hosted by the Capitol Area Council or check out Bastrop State Park’s nature page.