Stopping the spread of New World screwworm in Texas......Again
Screwworms, a curse on ranching in S. Texas, were very effectively exterminated back in the '60's, but after half a century, they have made their way back into Texas. The screwworm fly, lays eggs in open wounds of warm blooded animals and the resulting larvae then feed on the host animal, often resulting in death of the host.
In the mid 60's I got on a 2500 acre lease in Starr county. Hunted hard and saw only two deer, both bucks during our 6 week season. Did not see a single doe that year. The screwworm eradication program had just begun; we often saw the red tailed Lockheed Loadstars cris-cross the ranches dropping boxes of sterile flies. Deer population began to increase year by year. As the flies were eliminated, USDA moved their operation south, helping Mexico to eliminate the flies, providing a safety zone for many years. Unfortunately, the flies have slowly worked their way back, one having been discovered on a ranch near the border.
History of Screworm eradication program
Screwworms, a curse on ranching in S. Texas, were very effectively exterminated back in the '60's, but after half a century, they have made their way back into Texas. The screwworm fly, lays eggs in open wounds of warm blooded animals and the resulting larvae then feed on the host animal, often resulting in death of the host.
In the mid 60's I got on a 2500 acre lease in Starr county. Hunted hard and saw only two deer, both bucks during our 6 week season. Did not see a single doe that year. The screwworm eradication program had just begun; we often saw the red tailed Lockheed Loadstars cris-cross the ranches dropping boxes of sterile flies. Deer population began to increase year by year. As the flies were eliminated, USDA moved their operation south, helping Mexico to eliminate the flies, providing a safety zone for many years. Unfortunately, the flies have slowly worked their way back, one having been discovered on a ranch near the border.
History of Screworm eradication program