A total of four animals from a Medina County herd have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). On September 16th, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) announced that a captive deer in Lavaca County that is linked to the Medina County facility also tested positive. TPWD has regulatory authority over all white-tailed deer in Texas. Both TPWD and TAHC share regulatory responsibility for captive deer held under the authority of Deer Breeder Permits. While it may be challenged in court soon, captive white-tailed deer are not private property in Texas so they remain in the public trust and may only be possessed under a valid permit, which grants limited rights related to possession, animal husbandry, and transfer of animals. The investigation is ongoing, the CWD Management Plan is being utilized, and emergency rules regarding disease testing and movement of captive deer have been issued by TPWD and TAHC. While TPWD and TAHC are working diligently, we still do not know how CWD got into the Texas Mountain Ranch herd or how widespread it may be across the state… Read more from Plateau Land & Wildlife Management
HCA has joined the Texas Wildlife and others supporting measures to effectively address risks associated with CWD in Texas. Please see this joint resolution and contact HCA or TWA if your organization would like to lend support toward this effort.