By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Texas hunters are being asked to stay alert for signs of New World screwworm and reminded of fever tick requirements as hunting season gets underway.

Although the pest has not yet been detected in the U.S., vigilance remains critical for early detection in wildlife, livestock, equine and pets.

New World screwworm
Hunters are encouraged to watch for any signs of screwworm infestations while in the field.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is working closely with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to equip biologists and staff to identify and respond to potential screwworm cases.

Kory Gann, TPWD big game program director, said hunters and landowners are vital partners in surveillance efforts.

“Wildlife surveillance is going to be extremely important in identifying screwworm infestations in Texas,” he said. “Hunters are going to be extremely important. As they go out into the hunting season, there will be a lot of eyes out there on wildlife between trail cameras, hunting out of blinds and observing wildlife. We’re instructing hunters that if they do observe potential New World screwworm infestations in wildlife, that they contact their local wildlife biologists.”

When a potential infestation is reported, the biologist will work with the wildlife health team to collect samples and send them to a lab for confirmation.

Fever tick requirements
TAHC reminds hunters of additional requirements for moving any deer or exotics they harvest in a cattle fever tick quarantine area before leaving quarantine zones in South Texas.

A representative from TAHC or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must inspect and treat carcasses, hides, capes or the animals themselves before they are removed from the premises.

Doing so helps prevent the spread of fever ticks to naïve cattle in unaffected areas of the state and nation.

“We aim to keep this process as simple as possible for hunters, while ensuring fever ticks are not spreading to unaffected parts of the state and country,” said Dr. Bud Dinges, TAHC executive director and state veterinarian. “We appreciate hunter diligence and vigilance to meet TAHC requirements by getting inspections before leaving a fever tick quarantine zone and playing a key role in protecting animal populations from this pest.”

There are currently cattle fever tick quarantine areas in parts of Brooks, Cameron, Starr, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy and Zapata counties.

Before a hunter removes an animal carcass or other parts—such as hides, capes or heads—from a quarantined premises, they must obtain a permit. Once a hunter has a movement permit, they are free to take the hide from the quarantine area.

Hunters who plan to leave the hide at the site of harvest are not required to have the deer or exotic tested prior to leaving the quarantine area.

Hunters are required to have the hides of the following animals tested if they’re harvested in a cattle fever tick quarantine area: white-tailed deer, nilgai antelope, black buck, axis deer, red deer, gemsbok, aoudad, Texas Dall sheep and other exotics.

More information
For more information about New World screwworm detection and reporting for livestock and wildlife, visit screwwormtx.org.

For more information about fever ticks, fever tick wildlife inspections and contact information to request TAHC and USDA wildlife inspections, visit tahc.texas.gov.