best (feathered) friends forever

Houston Zoo swoops in to save a critically injured national icon

Mae is chilling with her fellow bald eagle BFF, Sally Ride.

Photo by Jackelin Reyna

As the nation prepares to celebrate Fourth of July, an enduring patriotic symbol is resting comfortably at Houston’s beloved wildlife refuge. A bald eagle, lovingly named Mae — in tribute to Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space — is being rehabilitated at the Houston Zoo after a near-fatal injury.

Mae was found by a game warden in Huxley, Texas during February’s Winter Storm Uri, suffering from an open wing fracture, according to the zoo. She was taken to Last Chance Forever, a wildlife clinic for birds of prey, and started antibiotic treatment.

Her journey continued to Lufkin, where her wing fracture was discovered. Though she has recovered from the infection, she has difficulty flying. That’s when the zoo stepped in to help; Mae arrived in Houston on May 6.

Fittingly, Mae is spending time with another bald eagle, Sally Ride. NASA fans will recognize that as yet another female notable name in space flight. The pair “hit it off,” the zoo notes, and were moved to the Texas Wetlands bald eagle exhibit on June 15.

Not unlike her winged BFFF (Best Feathered Friend Forever), Sally was found by a game warden in Sallisaw, Oklahoma — she too with an injured wing. Much like Mae, Sally was unable to fly after her injury; she came to Houston from the Tulsa Zoo.

Though obviously not common in Greater Houston (other than a certain zoo), bald eagles can be found in Texas and throughout North America. Conservation efforts, especially the banning of harmful pesticides, helped the iconic bird recover; in 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal endangered species list.

city-news-roundup pets

it's summertime

6 family-friendly activities that are new to Houston for summer 2026

A young boy plays simulated racing at Velocity in Houston

Photo courtesy of Velocity

From video game racing to museums, there are plenty for families to do in Houston this summer.

With school out for summer, parents are looking for things for kids to do that will keep them entertained and engaged. Here's a quick rundown of some of the fun activities opening up for the summer around the Houston area.

Hill at Sims
Located in the Sunnyside neighborhood, Houston's newest part is a $30 million, 100-acre project that's been five years in the making. It offers nearly five miles of paved and dirt trails, a fishable pier, and massive street art murals. The hill itself offers a breathtaking view of the downtown skyline.

Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land
The FIFA 2026 World Cup is almost upon us, leading to rampant outbreaks of futbol fever. The only cure is a cold compress of science, thanks to the Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land location. Through July 3, experts on site will teach about the physics, history, and psychology of the world's most popular game. Weekdays will feature craft stations, interactive exhibits, and group activities, while the weekends explore the countries that are participating in this year's World Cup, leading up to a final global celebration.

Lone Star Flight Museum
On Saturday, June 19, the museum will open its new exhibit Made in Texas: 116 Years of Texas Aviation History. Visitors will see items such as vintage flight attendant uniforms and fine China that was used in first class cabins. In addition, the exhibit showcases aircraft manufactured in Texas and celebrates pilots such as the Tuskegee Airmen and Texas ACES. Through January 3, 2027.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Just because it's summer is no reason there can't be a little learning as well. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is hosting a rare showing of masterworks by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti and more. The collection comes from renowned gallerist and dealer Heinz Berggruen, who scoured Europe after World War II through 1990 to acquire many works, some directly from the artists themselves. Though you may recognize the names of the artists, you likely won't be familiar with some of the works on display, as they tend to be more obscure pieces. Open through September 13.

Time Mission
Journey from the beginning of the universe through the molten emergence of the Earth to the far future for a cyberpunk heist. Time Mission is a single room immersive experience that pits 2 - 5 player aged 6 and up through 25 possible mental and physical games to progress through the fourth dimension. Developed by the same minds behind the Museum of Illusions, Time mIssion is just the latest in high-end immersive game services in the Houston, albeit it one with a temporal travel twist.

Velocity Sim Racing Lounge
Go-kart and sim racing often leave the younger children out of the mix thanks to height requirements on the equipment. Velocity Sim Racing Lounge in the Sawyer Yards district is changing that with their new Racer 2.0 rigs. Rated for ages 5 and up, the rigs come with adjustable pedals, steering wheels, and seats, making them far more accessible to both young racers and those with disabilities. Velocity is also debuting a new virtual track, Dino Rush, that lets you race through a prehistoric park.