Photo: Peggy Greb, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org.
The National Deer Association (NDA) strongly supports the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, recently introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX). This critical legislation aims to authorize funds for the construction of a new sterile fly production facility in the United States to combat the growing threat of New World screwworms (NWS).
NWS is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including deer, livestock, and, in rare cases, humans. In the early 20th Century, NWS killed enough deer to suppress deer population growth in many regions, especially Florida and Texas. The key to eradication of NWS was the sterile insect technique. By releasing sterilized male flies into the wild, scientists curtailed the reproduction of the screwworm population, and NWS was eradicated in the Southeast by 1959. A new infestation among endangered Florida Key deer in 2016, which killed over 132 Key deer, was also stopped by releasing sterile flies.
The recent resurgence of NWS in Mexico has prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to suspend live cattle, horse, and bison imports through the southern border to prevent the spread of this devastating pest. The STOP Screwworms Act would fund a new domestic sterile fly production facility, expanding the United States’ capacity to produce sterile male screwworm flies.
“The health and sustainability of North America’s deer populations are paramount to our mission,” said Nick Pinizzotto, President and CEO of the National Deer Association. “The re-emergence of the New World screwworm poses a significant threat not only to livestock but also to our nation’s wildlife, especially deer. We commend Senators Cornyn, Cruz, and Luján, and Representative Gonzales for their proactive leadership in introducing the STOP Screwworms Act. Establishing a domestic sterile fly production facility is a critical step in safeguarding our wildlife and agricultural resources from this devastating parasite.”
The NDA urges Congress to swiftly pass the STOP Screwworms Act to protect our nation’s deer herds and livestock industry.