TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE: 50 CWD CASES AT SITE OF INITIAL POSITIVE IN WASHINGTON CO., BUT NO NEW CASES IN WILD

  

Fifty cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) were reported after a deer herd depopulation operation this summer at the location of Washington County’s first recorded case, but state officials say those cases were all contained to the original site.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) District 9 Leader Bobby Eichler informed Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday that 158 adult deer and 63 fawns were euthanized as part of the operation.  The depopulation occurred in the overnight hours between August 5^th and 6^th at the deer-breeding facility north of Brenham, where the county’s first case of CWD was reported in early 2023 in a doe that was born in the facility. 

Eichler said the 50 positive cases represented roughly a third of the facility’s adult herd – the fawns, none older than 5 months of age, were not tested – and were spread across all age groups and both sexes.  He said at the time of the depopulation, 72 deer were missing from the reported herd inventory and were presumed dead.

According to Eichler, since the initial positive was detected in 2023, none of the deer that have since tested positive were found in the wild; all were at the site of the first case.

CWD is a degenerative prion disease that erodes the neurological functions of deer.  Victims experience symptoms like weight loss, stumbling, salivating and an overall appearance of “wasting” away.  It is ultimately fatal, and there is no treatment or vaccine.

The test samples were submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, and the results were returned on September 30^th.  Eichler said after the first positive case from 2023, the herd was quarantined, and additional live testing resulted in no new detections, though he noted that post-mortem testing is typically more effective.  Captive deer-breeding facilities undergo annual CWD testing requirements to ensure deer are safe to be released to other breeders or ranchers.

Eichler said as part of an agreement reached this summer between the facility owner, the TPWD and the Texas Animal Health Commission, the owner voluntarily accepted USDA indemnity funds of an undisclosed amount.  The herd was depopulated as a condition of that agreement, and the carcasses were buried deep underground on-site.

When asked if the affected deer-breeding facility would be able to re-open, TPWD Regional Wildlife Health Specialist Megan Hahn answered that most USDA herd plans require a quarantine period of at least 60 months before discussion can begin on re-introducing CWD-susceptible species.  She said those plans also involve high-intensity cleaning and disinfecting of related equipment, troughs and fencing, while non-metallic items can be burned.

Across the state, Hahn said there have been roughly 1,100 positive CWD detections, with a little over 140 of those being considered free-ranging.  Most of the cases are out of the Panhandle and West Texas.  Hahn said testing efforts will remain constant as the state works to understand where the disease is located, as well as its prevalence and spread.

Eichler encouraged the continued use of the check station located in the parking lot east of the constables’ offices for dropping off samples to be tested.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the court moved unanimously after an executive session to appoint Travis Semora to the office of Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace, filling the vacancy created after Judge Douglas Cone announced he would not seek re-election to the post next year and would instead run for county judge.  Semora has decades of experience in law enforcement, security operations and safety consulting, including time served with the Houston Police Department and Austin County Sheriff’s Office. 

In other business, the court:

• Held a public hearing for the Washington County hazard mitigation plan and approved a resolution to adopt the plan as the official mitigation plan for the county.  Emergency Management Coordinator Bryan Ruemke said the plan identifies natural hazards that affect Washington County and lays out actions to mitigate those hazards.  Ruemke said the plan must be updated and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) every five years.  He said the plan has been pre-approved by FEMA, pending approval from all local jurisdictions. 
• Approved the standard form of agreement between the county and Architexas for the second phase of the exterior restoration project at the courthouse.
• Agreed to move the commissioners court meeting dates of Tuesday, November 11^th to Monday, November 10^th and Tuesday, December 23^rd to Monday, December 22^nd, due to the holidays.
• Approved the 2025 Texas Renegade Outriders right-of-way permit application.
• Authorized the county judge to sign the participating entity services agreement for the Statewide Automated Victim Notification Services program and to sign future renewals.
• Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Evans Lane, consisting of 84.648 acres in Precinct 1.
• Approved a construction and drainage easement between the county and Larry Hillman for a drainage project along Dierking Road in Precinct 2.
• Accepted an order of public interest and a plat revision for the Spanish Oaks subdivision in Precinct 3.
• Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Willow Springs Road, consisting of 23.32 acres in Precinct 4.
• Discussed a formal notice from AT&T Communications, Inc. for a new service line along the county right-of-way of Old Independence Road and Airport Road, Precinct 1 and 3.  No action was needed.
• Heard monthly reports from the sheriff’s office, county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables, elections and veterans service office.
• Read a proclamation declaring the month of October as Arteriovenous Malformation Month in Washington County.