New World Screwworm Threat to Livestock

You have likely heard of the New World Screwworm recently discovered in Texas and New Mexico. This threat to livestock did not materialize overnight. Animal Health Authorities have been tracking this threat ever since it cropped back up in the Darien Province of Panama a couple years ago, and knew it was only a matter of time before it made it's way North through Central America, then Mexico and into the United States through the Southern border.

The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly that deposits larvae, on the living tissue in or near open wounds of animals, where they burrow into the flesh and feed on live tissue as opposed to most maggots who feed on dead tissue. In fact, in the old days medical personnel have used maggots to debride wounds of soldiers and other patients to prevent gangrene. The New Word Screwworm is primarily a threat to livestock and other mammals such has pets, but the risk to humans is pretty low. Infected animals usually present painful, worsening wounds that may smell bad and fail to heal. Visible larvae in wounds, unusual discharge, and signs of distress in the animal are other potential indicators. If untreated, the infestation can lead to severe tissue damage, open up other infections, and even lead to death of the animal. Check your livestock and other anials routinely, treat and monitor wounds that you see and get ahold of you Vetrinarian if you suspect infestation.

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) public notice confirmed on 10 June 2026 that it (the TAHC) has designated multiple counties in South Texas as infested zones due to confirmed cases of the New World screwworm. These counties include Zavala, Uvalde, La Salle, Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, and Webb counties (see map below). A quarantine is in place, meaning warm-blooded animals cannot leave these areas without inspection, treatment, identification, and a movement permit from TAHC authorities. Additional surveillance zones surround these infested areas to monitor potential spread. These zones are actively tracked, and updates are provided daily as new cases are confirmed.

Feedlots in West Texas feedlots are feeling the implications of this threat as border closures and restrictions on importing Mexican cattle have severely curtained their business. Eradication efforts are pretty straightforward and have been used for the past 70 years, and recently in Southern FLorida in 2017 by releasing sterile New World Screwworm male flies. Female New World Screwwom flies only mate once in their lifetime, so eggs laid by a female fly serviced by a sterlized male fly produces unfertilized eggs that do not hatch into the flesh eating larvae. Eventually no live larvae are hatched andn the New orld Screwwom population dies off.

Additional Resources:

Texas Animal Health Commission

U.S. Department of Agriculture National Invasive Species Information Center

Colt Saddle

A fella named Jerry M. contacted me to ask who made the saddle he saw on my 4 year old Curly Zeke that I have been dropping articles on, so I thought there maybe another one or two people who are interested in the particulars. BTW, I'm not selling it. The interest would be in a good quality saddle, from a well known maker, for such as reasonable price.

The past 18 months, after the passing of my wife, have been really different than preceding years. I have seen more young, green horses in the last year and a half than I have in 10 years. So I was looking for a bit lighter and less expensive Wade saddle that I can put on green horses and save my best custom saddle for my horses that are further along and a little more trustworthy. This likely stems from an incident years ago (sometime in 2004 as I remember) where I had a young horse's feet go out from underneath himself and he tumbled resulting in a completely torn stirrup leather and a torn out breast collar D ring.

Thankfully the horse was fine and as a result of this accident a friend of mine introduced me to an 80 year old Mexican gentleman, who was the last of the S.D. Myres saddle makers, and he repaired my saddle. This was actually a pretty funny story as he reattached the breast collar D ring, put a new stirrup leather on and replace the fleece and he wanted to charge me $75, which was like 1940's prices. I gave him $250 and we ended up bringing him a load of wood for his wood stove in his shop as we discovered that his wife had long past kicked his out of the house and he was living in his shop of all things. br>

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The saddle on Curly Zeke that Jerry wanted to know about was made by Heritage Horseman Supply, the saddle making and tack part of Scott Grosskopf's Buckaroo Businesses in Billings, Montana. They don't know me from Adam, and likely only saw my name once - on the purchase invoice - so there is no relationship between us, I am just pleased that they offer a line of quality saddles for a very reasonable price. On the phone with them I was told their idea was to offer a good saddle that working cowboys could afford. And they achieved that. The saddle (see photo above and video below) is the Yellowstone Series Classic 15" Wade.

I like smooth, unpadded seats, but on this saddle I wanted the seat and fenders in rough out as I can use all the help I can get to stay on board if a green horse thinks he has a little bronc in him. I also wanted a Cheyenne roll on the cantle to give myself something to hold on to as well. The Wade saddle with a deep seat and big diameter, low profile horn is a good design if you are going to work, rope and dally cattle.

Anyway, here you go Jerry and any others interested - This is the link to Heritage Horseman Supply.