Agricultural, wildlife and veterinary officials will host a public forum in Alpine later this month to discuss the potential threat posed by the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that can devastate livestock and wildlife populations if introduced or detected in Texas.
The community forum, organized by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, June 29, at the Sul Ross State University Turner Range Animal Science Center, Room 130, in Alpine.
The event will feature a panel discussion and question-and-answer session with representatives from the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Sul Ross State University, Alpine Veterinary Clinic and AgriLife Extension.
The New World screwworm is the larval stage of a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Once hatched, larvae feed on living tissue, potentially causing severe injury or death if untreated. The pest was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s through a federal sterile insect program but remains a concern because of outbreaks in parts of Latin America and the risk of northward spread.
Officials have increasingly emphasized preparedness and early detection, particularly in ranching regions of West Texas where cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other wildlife could be vulnerable to infestations.
The forum is intended to provide area ranchers, landowners, veterinarians and residents with updated information about prevention, detection and response strategies, while also giving the public an opportunity to ask questions directly to experts.
The event is being held in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Brewster County AgriLife Extension Office, the Borderlands Research Institute, Sul Ross State University and Alpine Veterinary Clinic.
For more information, organizers encouraged residents to contact the Brewster-Jeff Davis Extension Office at (432) 837-6200, ext. 114, or by email at luke.hendryx@ag.tamu.edu.
