The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) would like to remind all owners of premises where exotic chronic wasting disease (CWD) susceptible species (elk, red deer, sika, moose and any associated subspecies and hybrids) are located that annual mortality records and inventory forms are due on or before April 1, 2018.

As part of the May 9, 2017 adopted amendments to §40.5 of the Texas Administrative Code, TAHC added identification and mortality record keeping requirements for exotic CWD susceptible species. A copy of the rule may be viewed at http://bit.ly/2Dky7KP.

Statewide surveillance provides valuable information that is critical to early detection of CWD in exotic susceptible species, and protects the health and marketability of these valuable species.

Annual Inventory Form

TAHC requires owners of premises where exotic CWD susceptible species are located within a high fence and moved or transferred from the property to keep an estimated annual inventory for all exotic CWD susceptible species and submit the inventory form to the TAHC on or before April 1 of each year.

You may obtain an inventory form on the TAHC website at http://bit.ly/2FNK5le.

Completed inventory forms may be submitted by mail to TAHC, Attention: CWD Susceptible Species Reporting, P.O. Box 12966, Austin, Texas 78711-2966; by email to CWD_reports@tahc.texas.gov; or by fax to (512) 719-0729. For further information, contact your local TAHC region office or call 1-800-550-8242 x 777.

Annual Mortality Record Form

TAHC mortality record keeping requires owners of high or low fenced premises where exotic CWD susceptible species are located and eligible mortalities (hunter harvested or natural mortalities of animals 16 months of age or older) occurred to submit the mortality record form on or before April 1 of each year.

Please note that the TAHC surveillance rules require the owner of a premises to CWD test all eligible mortalities until such time that three animals are tested each year.

You may obtain a mortality record form on the TAHC website, http://bit.ly/2FicXyK, or you may use your own form as long as it includes the following:

* the date the exotic CWD susceptible species died or was harvested;

* the species, age, and gender;

* any RFID or NUES tag number affixed to the animal;

* any other ID number, official or unofficial, on the animal;

* and the accession number and collection date if a CWD sample was collected.

Completed mortality record forms may be submitted by mail to TAHC, Attention: CWD Susceptible Species Reporting, P.O. Box 12966, Austin, Texas 78711-2966; by email to CWD_reports@tahc.texas.gov; or by fax to (512) 719-0729. For further information, contact your local TAHC region office or call 1-800-550-8242 x 777.

Estimated annual inventory and mortality records must be retained for one year from the date of submission.

Visit their website for more information about exotic CWD susceptible species