The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) have diligently been working to address the recent discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), with all decisions being contemplated in the context of the three goals established within the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan developed by both agencies. These goals are:

1. Minimize CWD risks to the wild and captive white-­-tailed deer, mule deer, and other susceptible species in Texas.

2. Establish and maintain support for prudent CWD management with hunters, landowners, and other stakeholders.

3. Minimize direct and indirect impacts of CWD to hunting, hunting related economies, and conservation in Texas.

Earlier this week TAHC established a multi-­-agency CWD working group to address the numerous decisions and tasks necessary to mitigate disease risk associated with this event. The group’s first priority is to complete a “herd plan” for herds exposed to animals from the source facility and expects to finalize this soon. The group has also begun a risk assessment of herds not exposed to the source facility to determine appropriate deer movement permissions in the context of current situation, and as more data become available. The group also reiterated the need to maintain a moratorium on all deer movement until this assessment is complete, and recommendations can be developed. Both agencies vow to complete all tasks as soon as reasonably possible with the understanding that herd plans for the source facility and exposed herds must be top priority.

The TAHC and TPWD will continue to provide information as new information arises.