Wildlife, Warnings & Young Innovators: From Texas Skies to Gen Z Skills and Eco-Friendly Fishing

Texas is turning to helicopters to manage invasive aoudad sheep, what’s behind a surge in moose attacks in Colorado, and one youth figured out how to turn biodegradable fishing lures into a business plus how Gen Z are taking Adulting classes. Join radio hosts Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' and Jeff ‘Tigger’ Erhardt (Tigger & BEC) with The Bend Radio Show & Podcast, your news outlet for the latest in Outdoors & Western Lifestyle News!  

Season 5, Episode 242

Aerial Hunting, Moose Dangers, Life Lessons, and a Teen’s Green Fishing Breakthrough  Texas Takes to the Skies to Manage Invasive Aoudad

Texas is stepping up its wildlife management game — from the sky. Starting September 1, hunters will be allowed to shoot aoudad, also known as Barbary sheep, from helicopters, thanks to Senate Bill 1245, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.

Originally from North Africa, aoudad were brought to Texas in the 1950s and have since exploded in number — with over 30,000 now roaming the state. They're hardy, fast-breeding, and tough on the environment, competing with native species like mule deer and bighorn sheep, damaging fragile desert ecosystems, and even spreading disease to commercial herds.

The bill adds aoudad to the state’s aerial wildlife management program, which already includes feral hogs and coyotes. Officials hope helicopter hunting — a method that helped reduce hog numbers by over 30% — can also bring the aoudad population under control.

While they’re a problem for landowners and wildlife managers, aoudad remain a popular big game target for hunters. Texas has no closed season or bag limit for them — just bring a valid hunting license and be ready for a challenge, whether on foot or from above.

Reference: https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/texas-hunting-aoudad-from-helicopters/

Colorado Officials Warn: Give Moose Space During Calving Season

Moose attacks are on the rise across Colorado, and wildlife officials say the reason is simple — it’s calving season. From late May to mid-June, cow moose become highly protective of their young and more likely to charge if they feel threatened, especially by dogs.

In just over a week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) responded to four separate attacks involving mother moose and nearby people or pets. In one case, a cow moose trampled two dogs and forced a man to dive under a car. In another, two women were charged and stomped while walking off-leash dogs — they only escaped by climbing onto a roof, and a neighbor used a fire extinguisher to drive the moose off.

Even leashed dogs don’t guarantee safety. In Grand County, Colorado, a woman was seriously hurt when a cow moose charged her and her dog; her boyfriend shot the moose in self-defense. Wildlife officers later had to euthanize the orphaned calf, fearing it would become too dependent on humans.

In the most recent incident, a woman in Steamboat Springs was attacked while walking her dogs. A bystander tried to help — and got kicked for his trouble. The injured woman was airlifted to the hospital, and the cow and its two calves were later relocated.

CPW says moose see dogs as predators and react aggressively to protect their calves. They're urging outdoor enthusiasts to keep pets leashed, avoid thick brush where calves may be hiding, and give moose a wide berth if spotted. While moose attacks remain rare, growing moose and human populations mean encounters are becoming more likely.

So if you're hiking in moose country this time of year, stay alert, leash your dog, and let these massive mammals raise their young in peace.

Reference: https://cpw.state.co.us/news/06022025/colorado-parks-and-wildlife-warns-potentially-aggressive-cow