Paula Levihn-Coon

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Paula Levihn-Coon is a Fall 2023 Environmental Fellow for the Texas Observer. Enthusiastic about all things outdoors, she is a native plant enthusiast, a Texas Master Naturalist, and a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She received her master’s degree in journalism and media from the University of Texas at Austin.

Articles by Paula Levihn-Coon

A grainy photo of two fish, each about 2-inches long, nestled among underwater greenery. They have orange and pink scales, not unlike some goldfish. This species was recently declared extinct, decades after the last sighting.

Going Extinct in Texas

Declaring an endangered species officially gone can take decades.

by Paula Levihn-Coon

Philip Souza poses by the bay of Port Aransas with his fish sound recording gear. He's smiling, dressed in blue jeans and a burnt orange UT hoodie.

The Fish Whisperer

Half of the fish in the Mission-Aransas Estuary vocalize. One scientist is dedicated to recording and decoding their thumps, pops, and other sounds.

by Paula Levihn-Coon

A Vietnamese man works on bright green shrimp nets aboard the slanted deck of a shrimp boat at sea.

Disaster Declared for Texas Shrimp

The U.S. market—and seafood processors’ freezers—are overflowing with cheap farm-raised imports.

by Paula Levihn-Coon

Gregorio Marcias, who builds fences for a living, holds up a hailstone that he collected when a violent hailstorm hit his Round Rock neighborhood September 24.

Hella Hail Coming Down in Texas

Climate change is increasing the size of stones, making people—and insurance companies—anxious.

by Paula Levihn-Coon

Purple berries, which form on the American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) plant in the fall, sit behind red Turk's cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) blooms at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

Choose Native Plants!

More Texas gardeners are choosing local flora after 2023’s brutal weather—attracting bees, butterflies, and lower water bills.

by Paula Levihn-Coon