During the 2016 New World screwworm (NWS) outbreak in Florida among the state’s Key deer, which are a federally endangered wildlife species, two Texas A&M researchers were on the frontlines of the eradication efforts and offer lessons learned.
Roel Lopez, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and head of the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, and Phillip Kaufman, Ph.D., head of the Department of Entomology, share advice to help shape science-based outreach, surveillance and containment strategies in Texas.
Reflecting on screwworm infestation threat to endangered Florida deer
In 2016, a case of confirmed infection of NWS in Key deer marked the first U.S. outbreak of the flesh-eating pest in more than 30 years.
Lopez says this caught many wildlife biologists off guard.
“Frankly, many of us who had never dealt with New World screwworm were unsure of the survival of Florida’s Key deer,” he says.
The Key deer is the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer and only inhabits the Florida Keys, a string of islands off the southern tip of the state.
Lopez and others in the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute were called upon by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor Florida Key deer populations. They were asked to assess the impact of the infestation and aid in establishing recovery strategies, his team’s fieldwork became part of a large-scale, coordinated response effort.
From Florida entomologist to Texas advisor
During that time Kaufman served as University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension scientist and associate professor and was a key source of information on the NWS fly and its biology.
“County Extension agents are who local populations go to for answers,” Kaufman says. “It was up to us to provide them with the most up-to-date materials, so they knew what was occurring and what to be on the lookout for.”
Multi-agency response leads to fly containment and eradication
Containment and eradication efforts in Florida were a multi-agency effort, according to a Texas Agri-Life release. Strategies included the release of sterile male flies, mandatory checkpoints, treatment of impacted and vulnerable animals with deworming agents, and ongoing monitoring. Within months, the outbreak was contained and the NWS ultimately eradicated in Florida.
“It took a tremendous amount of coordination between various agencies and groups to reach that point,” Lopez says. “The biggest lesson I learned was the importance of rapid, interagency coordination. No one agency can do it themselves — it requires a cohesive effort.”
The infestation did not spread to Florida’s mainland, infecting additional wildlife or impacting the state’s livestock industry. However, it caused approximately 15% of the Key deer population to be killed.
Experts advocate vigilance, reporting suspicious cases
While NWS has not yet crossed into Texas, Lopez and Kaufman urge vigilance from landowners, veterinarians and wildlife managers, asking them to report any suspicious cases that could indicate its presence.
“If you see something, say something,” Lopez says. “It is better to have been mistaken than to inadvertently allow this pest to gain a foothold in the state.”
The impacts to wildlife and livestock could be devastating if NWS reaches the southern border and into the U.S. White-tailed deer hunting alone contributes billions of dollars to the Texas economy annually.
“The biggest challenge with wildlife is monitoring and early detection,” Lopez says. “With this in mind, investigation of suspicious mortalities or the use of game cameras can serve as an invaluable tool for landowners to monitor wildlife health and document any signs of infection.”
Kaufman says confined wildlife operations should develop herd management plans similar to those used by livestock producers.
“If you are running a wildlife facility, you need to have a biosafety plan,” he says. “Develop a surveillance program for your ranch and have a list of veterinarians and resources on hand.”
In some cases, Kaufman says these operations may consider equipping their most high-value animals with tracking devices to monitor their movements.
“The outbreak in Florida occurred without any prior warning indicators,” Kaufman says. “Because we are currently aware of the New World screwworm’s northern movement in Mexico, Texas is in a better position to proactively plan and execute an effective response.”
How to report suspected cases
Promptly report any signs or suspensions of NWS to the proper authorities:
Domestic animals: Contact your local veterinarian.
Wildlife: Contact your Texas Parks and Wildlife Department county wildlife biologist.
State and federal reporting:
Texas Animal Health Commission: 800-550-8242
U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services: 512-383-2400
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