If you believe the drama unfolding in D.C. is controversial and corrupt, brace yourself for a startling revelation closer to home within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
In a recent turn of events, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) finds itself under scrutiny for its mishandling of another Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) incident this time it is in Kerr County. The timeline of events, as provided by the department, raises eyebrows and creates concerns about the agency’s decision-making process, transparency, and the reliability of its testing methods.
This disastrous saga began on November 16th, 2023, when TPWD was notified of a suspect-positive CWD detection in a white-tailed deer research facility. This suspected detection, a result of ongoing ante-mortem testing as part of a research project, prompted a devastating response. Even though the testing method was well known for its high percentage of false positives, TPWD policy leaped on the opportunity to kill an entire deer herd. Within four days, on November 20th with total disregard for any reasonable due process to ensure an intelligent and responsible process, TPWD staff killed all 67 deer in the research facility, including the suspect-positive deer. This inexcusable knee-jerk reaction ended 50 years of white-tailed deer research at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
The true extent of this tragedy unfolded when subsequent deer test samples sent to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) on November 21st revealed no additional CWD detections. Despite this, tissues from the initially suspect-positive deer were forwarded to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), renowned for its highly accurate testing methods. On January 5th, TPWD received confirmation that none of the deer, including the initially suspected positive case, tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Let that sink in: despite the preemptive culling of the entire herd, not a single deer was afflicted with CWD. This revelation underscores a staggering degree of irresponsibility and misconduct, all orchestrated by Wildlife Division Director John Silovsky and Wildlife Division Veterinarian Hunter Reed, who issued the kill order.
The TPWD rapid decision to euthanize an entire herd of white-tailed deer without a discernible justification is unconscionable government abuse of power. This inexcusable government action demonstrates a gross lack of oversight and consideration for scientific advancements. It is incomprehensible that TPWD would sacrifice such an invaluable resource for CWD study in a monitored facility. This facility could have been used to explore alternative strategies that allow for both disease management and the continuation of critical research that would include productive alternatives to mass deer killings for responsible CWD management.
As the controversy surrounding TPWD’s handling of the Kerr County CWD incident continues to unfold, it underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and a responsible approach to wildlife conservation. Citizens and stakeholders expect nothing less from the agency directly responsible for safeguarding the wildlife of Texas.
An awful lot of taxpayer money is being wasted and family businesses destroyed by TPWD. Even though they have been asked multiple times to provide scientific evidence, the TPWD policy of killing all deer in a herd that might have been exposed to CWD is the only possible solution — been unable to provide any scientific bases for the massive herd slaughters they are so proud of doing.
Also, TPWD continues to refuse to recognize that CWD poses no threat to hunters. Even the federal government recognizes that humans are not affected by CWD yet TPWD wastes taxpayer money on huge billboards warning hunters about CWD. Why would TPWD do this while knowing there is no known evidence of anyone dying or even getting sick from eating deer meat?
The Kerr County incident serves as a morbid reminder of the critical need for a thorough and unbiased examination of the wildlife management practices TPWD’s employs in the stewardship of the state’s diverse ecosystem. At a minimum, every employee directly involved with the decision making regarding the Kerr Facility massacre should be terminated, and if the commissioners refuse to do so, they should resign in disgrace for betrayal of public trust.
Shortly, before the herd was killed there was talk about some supplements which showed a good possibility of boosting CWD immunity. It is reported that one of the research projects at the Kerr Facility was trying different feed supplements that could increase deer immunity to CWD. Since preventing CWD is counter to TPWD/TACH management objectives, it is not surprising that TPWD/TAHC quickly moved to wipe out the Kerr herd. A white tail deer immune to CWD would be extremely damaging to their objective of ending white tailed deer breeding in Texas.