Screwworm Spreads to Wildlife: USDA Urges Producer Vigilance as Cases Increase
The livestock industry’s worst-case containment scenario gained ground Wednesday, Oct. 21, as officials confirmed the first wildlife case of New World screwworm in an elk. Detected on a private game ranch in Pecos County, Texas, the find raises the pressure on ranchers, hunters and state agencies battling to keep the flesh-eating parasite from gaining a foothold across the Southwest.
The infested elk was harvested by a hunter and reported immediately to wildlife authorities. Because the animal was already dead at the time of reporting, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) considers the case inactive, but the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is modifying existing quarantine zones while USDA and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) ramp up localized surveillance.
By Angie Stump Denton
October 22, 2026 12:55 PM
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