June 13, 2026
In the past several days, news of New World screwworm (NWS) detections in Texas has caused alarm among landowners, sportsmen, and the public. The Texas Wildlife Association shares this concern and has worked actively over the past two years to support our members and government partners in preparation for this threat. While more detections can be expected in the coming weeks and months, we are confident in the growing toolkit available for surveillance, treatment, and eradication of the screwworm. Most critical to an effective response, however, is an informed and engaged public. Vigilant wildlife surveillance and reporting of suspect cases is the first step toward removing this pest from our borders once again. It is important to note that while this is a serious challenge, it is not a food safety risk.
To provide you with timely and relevant information related to the presence of NWS in Texas, we are sharing this weekly update as of 5 p.m. on June 12, 2026.
June 12, 2026 USDA Texas Dashboard. Updated daily at 5 p.m. Central
| Confirmed Date | County | Species |
| 11 June 2026 | Tom Green
Edwards Edwards Zavala |
Cattle
Goat Cattle Cattle |
| 9 June 2026 | Edwards | Cattle |
| 8 June 2026 | Gillespie
La Salle |
Goats
Cattle |
| 7 June 2026 | La Salle | Cattle |
| 5 June 2026 | Zavala | Cattle |
| 3 June 2026 | Zavala | Cattle |
Identification
NWS are parasitic flies that lay eggs in open wounds, genitalia or mucous membranes such as the umbilical cords of newborns, the nostrils, eyes or mouths of live warm-blooded animals. These eggs hatch into parasitic larvae (maggots) that only feed on living tissue, unlike other fly larvae that prefer dead or necrotic tissue. NWS larvae only burrow or “screw” into living tissue with sharp mouth hooks, giving them a screw-like appearance. Infested wounds quickly become infected and, if left untreated, will kill infested animals.
What is being done
Sterile flies are a proven technique to eliminate this pest. It is estimated that to push the screwworms back out of the United States, 500 million flies per week will need to be produced and dispersed. The following actions are in place, or under development, to expand our sterile fly resources:
- COPEG production facility (Pacora, Panama) – 100 million sterile flies produced per week. This is a USDA facility.
- Metapa production facility (Metapa, MX) – Construction is scheduled to be complete at the end of this month with estimated production of 60-100 million flies per week by the end of 2026. This is a USDA Facility.
- Moore Air Base dispersal facility (Edinburg, TX) – Completed in February 2026, this facility allows USDA to receive flies from other locations but base their distribution operations from Texas. Capable of dispersing 100 million flies per week.
- Moore Air Base production facility (Edinburg, TX) – Groundbreaking was held in April 2026. Phase 1 is estimated to be complete by the end of 2027, with efforts to expedite completion to the summer of 2027 and produce 100 million flies per week. Phase 2 is estimated to be complete by the end of 2028 and produce an additional 200 million flies per week for a total of 300 miliion flies per week once full capacity is reached.
- NovoFly – new genetic technology that will allow for the production of male only sterile flies. This technology, which is nearing full approval, will effectively double current production capabilities. TWA provided comments to the EPA in favor of this technology in April of 2026.
What to look for
- Open sores or wounds with live maggots
- Animals shaking heads or acting irritated
- Foul, rotted flesh odor
What you can do
Regularly reviewing game cameras, observations of wildlife while hunting or viewing animals, and inspection of hunter-harvested wildlife are important tools that can be used for NWS surveillance. While all warm-blooded mammals can be infested with NWS, white-tailed deer, jackrabbits, cottontails, small mammals and turkeys are more commonly affected. Instances of live or just-harvested animals with live maggots should be reported immediately.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has established procedures for the take of certain wildlife suspected to be infested with NWS.
Inspect all harvested wild game. If a harvested animal has a suspected infection, report it to your TPWD biologist, and follow guidelines for carcass treatment and disposal. Carcasses with no sign of infestation can be disposed of through normal processes.
How to report and who to report to
- Report native wildlife sightings to a local TPWD biologist or call (512) 389-4505.
- Livestock and exotic wildlife: 1-800-550-8242
- Pets: contact your local veterinarian
- Human: Department of State Health Services local office
TWA statement on potential feed-through treatment for wildlife
The Texas Wildlife Association continues to work with our state and federal partners to identify and share tools that Texas landowners can use in the prevention and treatment of NWS.
We are encouraged by the recent announcement of collaborative field trials involving the United States Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to evaluate the use of a feed-through treatment for wildlife applications. This research represents an important step toward developing science-based management options to protect Texas wildlife resources as the construction of vital sterile insect infrastructure moves forward.
We look forward to the results of these trials and are hopeful they will determine whether this treatment can be demonstrated to be both safe and effective in preventing NWS infestation in wildlife.
Stay updated by visiting these sites
Additional online resources (made available prior to the first confirmed U.S. cases of NWS).
TWA Wild at Work video, October 2025
TWA Wild at Work video, March 2025
Texas Farm Bureau Instagram Video 1
Texas Farm Bureau Instagram Video 2