In a decisive move to combat the alarming spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Texas Parks and Wildlife officials took action at the RW Trophy Ranch in Terrell, Texas, culling 249 white-tailed deer. The operation, which unfolded after years of legal battles with ranch owner Robert Williams, marks a significant step in addressing what officials have termed the largest known outbreak of CWD in the state.
The depopulation effort, carried out with rifles and pistols, was necessitated by the threat posed by CWD, a fatal degenerative disease specific to deer. Despite the gravity of the situation, officials emphasized that such actions are always a last resort, undertaken with careful consideration and in adherence to established protocols for managing prion diseases in wildlife.