Ticks in White Tailed Deer

 

Attention Deer Hunters: Watch for Fever Ticks in White Tailed Deer

Dr. Mario Villarino

Texas AgriLife Extension Service

County Extension Agent for Agricultural and Natural Resources- Hopkins County

 

Deer hunters need to be aware of fever ticks in deer!

With the hunting season at full swing, deer hunters must be aware of the chance of bringing ticks on hides collected in the south Texas. Fever ticks, capable of transmitting diseases, have been collected in white tailed deer, Texas Animal Health Commission says.

The tick, traditionally known to affect cattle in Mexico, has been collected in deer in North East Mexico. With a deer population moving across the border, there is a risk for the tick to invade Texas carried by an infested deer. Deer hunters are urged to look at ticks attached to hides and deer carcasses. The tick normally can affect the general condition of the deer, but usually does not kill it. The real risk here is to spread ticks on hides and carcasses of deer harvested in tick infested areas. If the tick survives and lay eggs, those seed ticks could find an animal to infest and get established very quickly.  Authorities suggest using common sense if hunting on tick infested ranches. Hunter should ask ranch owners if the property is located under the fever ticks quarantine area.  If a deer is harvested in the area of temporary quarantine, the hunter has the following options: a) Remove the hide completely and leave it at the ranch, b) freeze the hide for 24 hrs and then transport or c) have the hide inspected and treated by the U.S. department of agriculture’ s fever tick force before removing it from the ranch.  There is too much at stake here to take a chance on inadvertently carrying this deadly parasite outside the quarantine zone and the Texas Parks and Wildlife is requesting hunters to be vigilant to help keep this tick from spreading.

 

 

_____