White-tailed deer hunters will help combat the screwworm in the USA

During the 2026-27 season, white-tailed deer hunters plan to harvest about 6 million livestock animals, as well as inspect millions more animals. An additional volume of information is provided by tens of millions of trail camera images collected annually. This scale of observation allows hunters to act as the first line of defense.

In the state of New Mexico, the screwworm has already been recorded in livestock, specifically in Grant and Otero counties. In this regard, the relevant department asked hunters to record potential cases of infection. Specialists recommend paying attention to wounded animals with visible larvae, as well as manifestations of unusual behavior — lethargy, restlessness, attempts to bite or lick wounds.

If signs of New World infection are detected, harvested animals are prohibited from being removed from the field, as this may contribute to the spread of the parasite. The finding should be reported immediately to the local branch of the state wildlife department, the USDA office, or a regional veterinary specialist.