This Video Finally Explains Texas Screwworms Perfectly

Living in Texas and the Texas Panhandle, in the middle of cattle country, we have all heard a lot about screwworm. Just reading articles about the screwworm can be confusing. Hearing about it puts a mental picture of a giant worm in my head that twists its way into cattle and infects them. For most people who don't deal with cattle daily, it is quite confusing. What we do know is that it is devastating to the cattle industry and the cost of meat for consumers. Honestly, I don't fully understand what the screwworm is and what it does.

This Video Finally Helped Me Understand Texas Screwworms

However, while scrolling social media over the weekend, I came across a video of a person I follow. This is a video that finally explained, in a way that's easy to understand, what screwworm is and does. It explains exactly what this gross bug is and how it ends up on our cattle here in Texas.

How Screwworm Spreads to Cattle and Other Animals

Flies lay eggs in the wounds of cattle, other livestock, and wildlife, and the larvae that hatch then eat healthy tissue. You expect them to turn into maggots (I know, gross), and those maggots end up eating dead tissue. After 7 days of feasting on this healthy tissue, these larvae fall to the ground, burrow into the soil, turn into flies, and reemerge after pupation. Then they mate and continue the cycle.

Read More: Facts About New World Screwworm

These gross little creatures aren't just feeding on cattle; they are going after other livestock as well, including horses. Plus, your pets are not safe either; the larvae have also been found on dogs and cats. Wildlife is not safe either.

These creatures have ranchers worried because one small wound could kill the animal. These animals don't show symptoms until the larval infestation is too far advanced. If caught early, the animal can be saved; if not, it is fatal.

Read More: Best Places to Buy Fresh Local Beef Around Amarillo

Current Screwworm Cases in Texas

The USDA has confirmed 42 cases in Texas, with the northernmost case in Tom Green County (San Angelo). That case is currently inactive. Nine active cases remain in the Lone Star State. Sutton County was the most recent case as of publishing; it was noted on July 21 in goats. An earlier case was confirmed in a dog on July 13.

How Texas Is Fighting Back Against Screwworm

In June of 2026, the USDA began releasing sterile flies into Texas to combat the breeding of the New World Screwworm. There is currently a fly dispersal facility on Moore Air Base in Texas, capable of releasing 100 million sterile flies per week. Separately, USDA is building a sterile fly production facility in South Texas, projected to produce 300 million sterile flies per week once complete.

Joel Angel Juarez, Getty Images

Read More: Sterile Insect Technique

Is My Pet at Risk From Screwworm?

According to Texas A&M University Veterinary Medicine, here's how to protect your pets. Pet owners should watch for:

• Visible larvae in a wound
• Wounds that worsen quickly
• A foul odor, often described as decaying tissue
• Swelling or irritation around a wound

Preventing infestation starts with routine care and awareness, which can include:

• Checking pets regularly for wounds or injuries
• Cleaning and treating wounds promptly
• Monitoring surgical wounds that may be healing
• Keeping pets up to date on veterinary care
• Seeking veterinary attention for unusual wounds or odors

If you were confused about how this tiny little pest was affecting cattle in Texas and potentially affecting our pets, here it is explained in easier terms to understand. Oh, and if you are not following Grannie Bibbins or Gatlin Didier on social media, you're missing out.