A Flesh-Eating Parasite Has Officials Watching Oklahoma's Feral Hogs

Oklahoma has no shortage of problems with feral hogs. The invasive animals damage crops, tear up pastures, destroy wildlife habitat, and reproduce quickly enough to frustrate even the most determined control efforts.

Now, officials are keeping an eye on them for another reason.

As concerns about New World screwworm continue to grow in parts of the southern United States, officials are paying close attention to feral hogs, which have a bad habit of showing up where they're least wanted and are remarkably difficult to control.

Understand What New World Screwworm Is

Despite its name, New World screwworm isn't actually a worm. It begins with a fly. And the real problem starts after the fly lays eggs in an open wound. 

Once the larvae hatch, they feed on the surrounding tissue, turning what might have been a minor injury into something far more serious. That's why livestock owners, veterinarians, and wildlife officials pay so much attention to the parasite.

The flesh-eating parasite can affect:

• Cattle

• Horses

• Sheep

• Goats

• Wildlife

• Pets

• Occasionally, humans

Without treatment, infestations can become serious, even fatal.

Why Feral Hogs Are Raising Concerns

Officials aren't focused on feral hogs because they're particularly vulnerable to screwworm. They're concerned because feral hogs are notoriously difficult to track and control.

Several factors make them a potential concern:

• They travel long distances.

• They frequently cross property boundaries.

• They often live in remote areas.

• They regularly sustain wounds through fighting and rooting activity.

• They can be difficult for animal health officials to monitor.

Those open wounds create new opportunities for screwworm flies to lay eggs.

Unlike cattle, which are usually watched closely by their owners, feral hogs can move through large areas of land with little human contact, making it far more difficult to detect signs of the parasite.

No Confirmed Cases in Oklahoma

The good news is that Oklahoma hasn’t reported any confirmed cases of New World screwworm.

However, officials are paying close attention to developments in neighboring states and are encouraging livestock owners, veterinarians, hunters, and pet owners to stay aware of the situation.

Animal health agencies are also continuing their prevention and monitoring efforts so they can detect potential cases as early as possible.

Watch for Screwworm Symptoms

Because screwworm larvae infest wounds, the earliest warning signs usually appear around injuries that aren’t healing normally.

Potential screwworm symptoms are:

• Wounds that appear larger over time

• Wounds containing visible larvae or maggots

• Foul-smelling discharge

• Excessive licking, biting, or irritation around a wound

• Signs of discomfort or distress

• Loss of appetite or unusual behavior

Stay Alert, Not Alarmed

Stories about parasites always have a way of grabbing our attention. And, certainly, a flesh-eating parasite isn't something we expect to see in the news.

For now, though, Oklahoma is free of confirmed cases, and animal health officials will be sure to monitor the situation closely.

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