Source: Texas Animal Health Commission
Things to know before you go
Hunting season has arrived and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials are reminding hunters in South Texas that additional precautions are required when handling white-tailed deer, nilgai antelope, black buck, axis deer, and other exotics located on fever tick quarantined premises.
Portions of Cameron, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Hidalgo, Kinney, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata counties have established fever tick quarantine areas.
“Hunters play a critical role in protecting the state from fever tick expansion,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC executive director, “and we are asking for their help this hunting season to ensure this tick is not inadvertently transported to unaffected areas of the state when harvested deer or exotics are moved from quarantined premises.”
Portions of Cameron, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Hidalgo, Kinney, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata counties have established fever tick quarantine areas.
“Hunters play a critical role in protecting the state from fever tick expansion,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director, “and we are asking for their help this hunting season to ensure this tick is not inadvertently transported to unaffected areas of the state when harvested deer or exotics are moved from quarantined premises.”
To learn more about the TAHC and USDA wildlife inspection requirements, visit https://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/feverticks-pests/TAHCBrochure_FeverTickWildlifeInspection.pdf.
To learn more about fever ticks, visit http://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/cattle/#ticks/ or view the documents below:
- TAHC Cattle Fever Tick Brochure http://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_FeverTick.pdf
- TAHC Cattle Fever Tick Frequently Asked Questions http://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_FeverTickFAQ.pdf
- USDA Pest Alert http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/tick/downloads/pest_alert .pdf