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Aug. 20, 2007
AUSTIN, Texas — State wildlife officials are urging deer hunters and meat
processors in South Texas to take additional precautions when handling deer
carcasses during the upcoming season due to concerns about possible spread of
fever ticks in the region.
Portions of Maverick, Dimmit and Webb counties are currently under livestock
quarantine by the Texas Animal Health Commission due to heightened levels of
fever ticks outside the permanent quarantine zone along the Rio Grande border.
If not contained, according to TAHC officials, the fever ticks will continue to
spread northward outside the permanent fever tick quarantine area and could
become re-established in other areas of Texas and throughout much of the south,
southeast and parts of California.
In addition to cattle, horses, white-tailed deer, Nilgai and elk can act as a host for
the tick, perpetuating its population.
“We’re asking that hunters use common sense and take precautions when
handling and transporting deer taken on ranches within the quarantine zone,”
said Mike Berger, PhD, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department director of wildlife.
According to the TAHC, fever ticks can affect the condition and general well-
being, but are unlikely to cause death in deer. It is safe to eat venison from fever
tick infected deer.
Hunters are reminded that if you kill a deer on property that is NOT known to be
infested, then you may process or transport the carcass as usual even though the
ranch may be within the quarantine zone. However, if you kill a deer on property
known to be infested, then you have three options: Leave the hide on ranch;
freeze the hide for 24 hours, or have the hide/cape treated by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Fever Tick Force before removing it from the ranch.
In addition to deer processing and transport restrictive measures, all use of corn
treated with the anti-parasitic Ivermectin should cease immediately through March
1. Ivermectin use requires a withholding period of 60 days before slaughter or
harvest.
“There is too much at stake here to take a chance on inadvertently carrying this
deadly parasite outside the quarantine zone and we are asking hunters to be
vigilant to help keep this tick from spreading,” Berger stressed.
Fever ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting a protozoa—or tiny blood
parasite—that destroys red blood cells, causing the deadly livestock disease,
"Texas Fever." Cattle are highly susceptible to "Texas Fever," and the disease
may kill up to 90 percent of infected cattle.
"It took more than 50 years to eradicate fever ticks from the U.S.," said Dr. Bob
Hillman, TAHC executive director and Texas’ state veterinarian.
A permanent fever tick quarantine zone runs through eight South Texas counties
along the Rio Grande to prevent the reintroduction of the ticks into Texas and the
U.S.
AUSTIN, Texas — State wildlife officials are urging deer hunters and meat
processors in South Texas to take additional precautions when handling deer
carcasses during the upcoming season due to concerns about possible spread of
fever ticks in the region.
Portions of Maverick, Dimmit and Webb counties are currently under livestock
quarantine by the Texas Animal Health Commission due to heightened levels of
fever ticks outside the permanent quarantine zone along the Rio Grande border.
If not contained, according to TAHC officials, the fever ticks will continue to
spread northward outside the permanent fever tick quarantine area and could
become re-established in other areas of Texas and throughout much of the south,
southeast and parts of California.
In addition to cattle, horses, white-tailed deer, Nilgai and elk can act as a host for
the tick, perpetuating its population.
“We’re asking that hunters use common sense and take precautions when
handling and transporting deer taken on ranches within the quarantine zone,”
said Mike Berger, PhD, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department director of wildlife.
According to the TAHC, fever ticks can affect the condition and general well-
being, but are unlikely to cause death in deer. It is safe to eat venison from fever
tick infected deer.
Hunters are reminded that if you kill a deer on property that is NOT known to be
infested, then you may process or transport the carcass as usual even though the
ranch may be within the quarantine zone. However, if you kill a deer on property
known to be infested, then you have three options: Leave the hide on ranch;
freeze the hide for 24 hours, or have the hide/cape treated by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Fever Tick Force before removing it from the ranch.
In addition to deer processing and transport restrictive measures, all use of corn
treated with the anti-parasitic Ivermectin should cease immediately through March
1. Ivermectin use requires a withholding period of 60 days before slaughter or
harvest.
“There is too much at stake here to take a chance on inadvertently carrying this
deadly parasite outside the quarantine zone and we are asking hunters to be
vigilant to help keep this tick from spreading,” Berger stressed.
Fever ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting a protozoa—or tiny blood
parasite—that destroys red blood cells, causing the deadly livestock disease,
"Texas Fever." Cattle are highly susceptible to "Texas Fever," and the disease
may kill up to 90 percent of infected cattle.
"It took more than 50 years to eradicate fever ticks from the U.S.," said Dr. Bob
Hillman, TAHC executive director and Texas’ state veterinarian.
A permanent fever tick quarantine zone runs through eight South Texas counties
along the Rio Grande to prevent the reintroduction of the ticks into Texas and the
U.S.
Aug. 10, 2007
AUSTIN, Texas — According to preliminary state data from the new 2006 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, Texas led the
nation in 2006 with 1.1 million Texans going hunting at some point during the
year, while Florida led the nation in total fishing participation with 2.8 million
anglers and California was the top wildlife-watching state with 6.2 million of its
residents observing wildlife.
The Lone Star State was also among the national leaders in fishing participation at
2.5 million and wildlife viewing with 4.17 million Texans participating.
Texas also leads the nation in hunting-related expenditures, and the Lone Star
State generates among the highest spending levels in the country for fishing and
wildlife-watching. The survey showed hunters spent about $2.3 billion in Texas,
more than any other state. Angler spending in Texas was about $3.2 billion,
second only to Florida at $4.5 billion. Texas ranked third nationally for
expenditures by wildlife-watchers at about $2.9 billion, with California first at $4.6
billion and Florida edging above Texas at close to $3 billion. These figures reflect
spending on food, lodging, transportation, equipment and other items.
“The National Survey is an important tool that measures in economic and
participatory terms the value that wildlife has in Americans’ hearts and to the
nation’s economy. Wildlife related recreation rejuvenates our spirit, connects us
with nature and gets us outside pursuing healthy activities,” said U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall.
In 2006, more than 87 million Americans, or 38 percent of the United States’
population age 16 and older hunted, fished or watched wildlife. They spent $120
billion that year pursuing those activities. Further broken down by category, 30
million or 13 percent fished and spent a total of $41 billion on their activities, 12.5
million or 5 percent hunted and spent a total of $23 billion, and 71 million or 31
percent observed wildlife and spent a total of $45 billion.
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation has
been conducted every 5 years since 1955 and is one of the nation’s most
important wildlife recreation databases. It is considered to be the definitive source
of information concerning participation and expenditures associated with
hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife-related recreation nationwide.
The Survey is conducted at the request of State fish and wildlife agencies and is
funded by grants from the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Acts’ Multistate
Conservation Grant Program. A wide range of individuals and groups depend on
the Survey to analyze participation rates, economic impacts of expenditures,
demographic characteristics, and trends in participation and activities.
It is important to note that the National Survey counts only participants who
actually went hunting, fishing or observed wildlife in 2006 and does not represent
the total number of anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers in the U.S. Many people
who consider themselves hunters, anglers or wildlife watchers do not participate
every year. For example, examination of survey data shows that over the five year
period from 2002 to 2006, a cumulative total of 44.4 million people fished and 18.6
million hunted.
This 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
State Overview report, as well as previous surveys and reports, can be found at
http://federalaid.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html. The Service expects to publish the
final National Report in November 2007.
AUSTIN, Texas — According to preliminary state data from the new 2006 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, Texas led the
nation in 2006 with 1.1 million Texans going hunting at some point during the
year, while Florida led the nation in total fishing participation with 2.8 million
anglers and California was the top wildlife-watching state with 6.2 million of its
residents observing wildlife.
The Lone Star State was also among the national leaders in fishing participation at
2.5 million and wildlife viewing with 4.17 million Texans participating.
Texas also leads the nation in hunting-related expenditures, and the Lone Star
State generates among the highest spending levels in the country for fishing and
wildlife-watching. The survey showed hunters spent about $2.3 billion in Texas,
more than any other state. Angler spending in Texas was about $3.2 billion,
second only to Florida at $4.5 billion. Texas ranked third nationally for
expenditures by wildlife-watchers at about $2.9 billion, with California first at $4.6
billion and Florida edging above Texas at close to $3 billion. These figures reflect
spending on food, lodging, transportation, equipment and other items.
“The National Survey is an important tool that measures in economic and
participatory terms the value that wildlife has in Americans’ hearts and to the
nation’s economy. Wildlife related recreation rejuvenates our spirit, connects us
with nature and gets us outside pursuing healthy activities,” said U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall.
In 2006, more than 87 million Americans, or 38 percent of the United States’
population age 16 and older hunted, fished or watched wildlife. They spent $120
billion that year pursuing those activities. Further broken down by category, 30
million or 13 percent fished and spent a total of $41 billion on their activities, 12.5
million or 5 percent hunted and spent a total of $23 billion, and 71 million or 31
percent observed wildlife and spent a total of $45 billion.
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation has
been conducted every 5 years since 1955 and is one of the nation’s most
important wildlife recreation databases. It is considered to be the definitive source
of information concerning participation and expenditures associated with
hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife-related recreation nationwide.
The Survey is conducted at the request of State fish and wildlife agencies and is
funded by grants from the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Acts’ Multistate
Conservation Grant Program. A wide range of individuals and groups depend on
the Survey to analyze participation rates, economic impacts of expenditures,
demographic characteristics, and trends in participation and activities.
It is important to note that the National Survey counts only participants who
actually went hunting, fishing or observed wildlife in 2006 and does not represent
the total number of anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers in the U.S. Many people
who consider themselves hunters, anglers or wildlife watchers do not participate
every year. For example, examination of survey data shows that over the five year
period from 2002 to 2006, a cumulative total of 44.4 million people fished and 18.6
million hunted.
This 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
State Overview report, as well as previous surveys and reports, can be found at
http://federalaid.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html. The Service expects to publish the
final National Report in November 2007.
| Deer Hunters Urged To Take Precautions Against Fever Ticks |
| Latest Survey Reveals Texas Leads Nation in Hunting |