Weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic swept into Texas, a biologist found a dead bat covered in a white fungus — the state’s first official case of white-nose syndrome. Now, scientists are on a mission to understand how many bats have been lost.
Joe Timmerman
Joe Timmerman was an Austin-based summer 2023 photography fellow. Joe graduated from Ohio University, where he earned degrees in visual communication and journalism. Previously, Joe interned at the Cincinnati Enquirer and worked as a contract photojournalist and writer for The Columbus Dispatch and EcoWatch.
Amid extreme temperatures, Texas state parks can be a respite — or a heated hindrance all their own
More than 1 million people visited Texas’ 89 state parks in June. In locations without bodies of water, park officials warn attendees not to overdo it as three-digit temperatures persist.
As Texas’ heat wave continues, tell us how you’re coping
Texans are seeing record-breaking temperatures this summer. Tell us how the excessive heat is affecting your daily life or plans for the future and what questions we can answer about dealing with it.

