Elk & Deer Health

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal, and degenerative neurological disease affecting cervids such as deer, elk, moose and other members of the cervid family. The disease was first discovered in captive mule deer in Colorado in 1967, and has since been confirmed in approximately 25 states. CWD belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).

The first case of CWD in Texas was discovered in 2012 in free-ranging mule deer in the Hueco Mountains of far West Texas. In 2016, the first free-ranging exotic CWD susceptible species (Elk) tested positive for CWD in Dallam County. For details and chronology of CWD detections in Texas, visit TPWD's CWD Positives in Texas.

Exotic CWD susceptible species are species that are non-native to Texas and have had at least one diagnosis of CWD confirmed by an official test conducted by a USDA-APHIS laboratory. This includes North American elk or wapiti, black tailed deer, red deer, reindeer, Sika deer, moose, and any associated subspecies and hybrids.

On May 30, 2017 new rules were put in place concerning surveillance and movement requirements for exotic CWD susceptible species.

Forms

• Movement Record Form
• Inventory Form
• Mortality Record Form
• Test Submission

As of September 16, 2025, the Texas Animal Health Commission will no longer offer the voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program (HCP) in Texas. In an open meeting held on August 26, 2025, the Texas Animal Health Commission voted to repeal the rules governing HCP, ending the program. This decision was made after full consideration of public feedback and careful evaluation of the program.

Should you have any questions regarding alternative paths of interstate export of CWD susceptible farmed cervid species, please contact USDA-APHIS Cervid Health team at vs.sp.cervid.health@usda.gov.

Postmortem Sample Collection

The TAHC Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collector Authorized Personnel Program regulations and requirements apply to a person, other than an accredited veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Texas, who collects and submits samples for official post-mortem CWD testing in Texas.

If you have questions about this program, need to check your certification status, or if you are interested in signing up for an in person class, please contact us at authorized_personnel@tahc.texas.gov or call the Authorized Personnel Department at (512) 650-0475.

• List of TAHC Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collectors
• Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collector Authorized Personnel Program - Online Application
• Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collector Recertification Module

Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease affecting deer, cattle, exotic livestock, horses, swine, dogs and humans. It is caused by Bacillus anthracis; a spore-forming bacteria. The bacteria can remain alive, but dormant in the soil for several years.

Anthrax is found worldwide, but in Texas, cases are most often confined to a triangular area bound by the towns of Uvalde, Ozona and Eagle Pass. This area includes portions of Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton, Edwards, Kinney and Maverick Counties.

All Fever tick information is located on the TAHC Fever Ticks & Pests page.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that can affect many mammals, including members of the cervidae family. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium bovis. It can be transmitted between livestock, humans, and other animals. The disease is spread through respiratory and oral secretions from infected animals.

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle. VSV also can affect sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, swine, deer and some other species, including bobcats, raccoons and monkeys. Humans can also become infected with the disease when handling affected animals, but this is a rare event. Vesicular Stomatitis has been confirmed only in the Western Hemisphere. It is known to be an endemic disease in the warmer regions of North, Central, and South America, but outbreaks of the disease in other temperate geographic parts of the hemisphere occur sporadically.