TPWD's Berger plans to retire

AUSTIN - Michael E. Berger announced plans to retire Oct. 31 as Wildlife Division Director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Berger capped a 40-year career by serving the last five as TPWD wildlife director, leading a team that greatly increased the acreage of Texas land under wildlife management plans, expanded public hunting and recreational opportunities, and improved science-based conservation.

Since Berger took the reins as wildlife director in 2003, the TPWD Wildlife Division has expanded statewide acreage under approved wildlife management plans from 14.5 million acres to more than 22 million acres involving some 6,000 landowner cooperators.

The division also expanded public hunting opportunities, implemented new state-of-the-art wildlife surveys in response to an external science review, and developed and began implementing the Texas Wildlife Action Plan to proactively aid hundreds of wildlife species before they become rare by studying, restoring and protecting critical habitats.

In the past five years, the Wildlife Division has conducted more than 200 research projects in coordination with university partners. These multi-faceted investigations have involved game, nongame and rare reptiles, birds, mammals and other species, including quail, turkeys, doves, lesser prairie-chickens, and whitetailed deer. The division has also helped Mexican states as they attained authority over resident species and developed state conservation programs similar to those north of the border.

The TPWD will begin a nationwide search to fill the position.