Officials focusing on wildlife as number of NWS cases increase

The New World Screwworm, a highly destructive, flesh-eating parasite, led to a state disaster declaration issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on January 29, across all 254 counties.  For wildlife, the primary concerns are severe population declines, agonizing infestations in vulnerable species such as White-tailed deer and Bighorn sheep, and high mortality rates.

During a call on Monday with reporters, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that White-tailed deer and other warm-blooded wildlife in Texas could cause the spread of New World Screwworm and could go undetected.  She says up until now, most of the focus has been on ranchers and the Texas cattle industry but detection of infected cases with wildlife will be key to stopping this parasite.

White-tailed deer and Mule deer are highly vulnerable around the head and neck, especially when shedding velvet, growing antlers, or sustaining scratches.  Bighorn sheep and exotics are susceptible to deep tissue infestations in minor cuts, scrapes, or tick bites.  Newborn fawns’ umbilical area is a primary target for the female fly to lay her eggs.

If you encounter a wild animal showing abnormal behavior, open sores, live maggots visibly burrowing into living flesh, or open sores or tissue damage with foul-smelling odors, do not approach the animal closer than 25 yards.  Contact your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist or the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242.

Officials said that if wildlife go unchecked in Texas the New World screwworm could devastate the state’s $9.6 billion hunting and wildlife industry.  The parasites seek out warm-blooded hosts, like livestock, pets and even humans.  The pests lay larvae that have screw-like teeth that cause infections and can kill an animal within two weeks if left untreated.

Rollins said 142 million sterilized male screwworm flies have been dropped, and they are monitoring 8,000 fly traps placed along the border.  Female New World screwworm only mate once in their lifetime, and previous eradication of the parasites in the early 1970s involved dropping sterile male flies.