Screwworm Texas: Wild Fly Found, What Livestock Haulers Must Do

What happened

Screwworm news for Texas livestock haulers: a wild New World screwworm fly was caught in Brewster County, Texas. The fly landed in a USDA trap last Friday, Sept. 25. USDA shared the find on Sunday. Bloomberg reported it on Sept. 28, 2026, and Insurance Journal carried the story.

The screwworm is a parasite. Its larvae (young worms) eat into wounds on live animals. This is the first wild screwworm fly found in Texas since the outbreak began. USDA has more than 100 traps built just for this fly along the border.

USDA counts 50 cases in the US since June. Two are active right now. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the country is not out of the woods yet. Facilities to raise sterile flies (flies that cannot breed, used to wipe out the pest) are still being built. The article says the plant should open in April or May 2027.

This comes right after the US began reopening border ports to Mexican cattle in late August. The largest port reopened in mid-September.

What it means for owner-operators

If you haul cattle, horses or other livestock in West Texas or on the border, this is about your paperwork. The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC, the state agency for animal disease) has an Infested Zone. It covers parts of 12 counties: Brewster, Crockett, Edwards, Jeff Davis, Pecos, Presidio, Schleicher, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Val Verde and Zapata. Starr, Zapata and Val Verde sit right on our border routes.

The TAHC rule is simple. Warm-blooded animals in the zone cannot leave it without TAHC authorization first. Before they move, a certified inspector checks them. The inspector fills out an NWS Movement/Treatment certificate. It lists the treatment product used and each animal's official ID. TAHC's latest orders are dated Sept. 27, 2026.

A new wild fly does not change the rule by itself. But it is a reminder that checks can stay in place for months. A load without the right certificate can mean a stopped trip and an unhappy customer.

What to do next

• Before you accept a livestock load, ask where the animals are coming from. If it is inside the 12-county zone, ask for the TAHC authorization.
• Do not load until you see the NWS Movement/Treatment certificate. Keep a copy in the cab.
• Check that the animal IDs match the certificate.
• Need an inspector? TAHC lists certified inspectors and takes calls at 512-714-1936.
• Check the TAHC screwworm page before each trip. Orders change often.
• Keep your company file current too: USDOT, MC, BOC-3 and UCR. Our trucking filing guide shows each step.

Want your permits file in order before the next haul? Call TCZ Permits at 956-526-6727.