Episode
Screwworm: America Defeated This Wildlife Nightmare Once. Now It's Back
- Podcast
- Dark Outdoors
- Published
- Jun 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1800
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/dark-outdoors-5630418/episodes/screwworm-america-defeated-this-wildlife-nightmare-once-now-it-s-back/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/dark-outdoors-5630418/screwworm-america-defeated-this-wildlife-nightmare-once-now-it-s-back.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
Few wildlife threats are as horrifying—or as potentially devastating—as the New World screwworm. Today on Dark Outdoors, we're taking a deep dive into a parasite that eats living flesh—and it's no longer a problem confined to the history books. The New World screwworm is in Texas, it is spreading, and wildlife professionals, ranchers, hunters, and animal health experts are sounding the alarm. Joining me is legendary wildlife biologist Larry Wyzun, known throughout the hunting and conservation world as "Mr. Whitetail." Larry is one of America's most respected deer experts and one of the foremost authorities on whitetail deer biology in the world. What makes Larry's perspective especially important is that he witnessed the original screwworm crisis firsthand. Early in his career, he saw the devastating effects this flesh-eating parasite had on wildlife and livestock before America achieved one of the greatest animal health victories in history by eradicating it from the United States. Now, decades later, screwworm has returned as a growing threat. As it spreads, concerns are mounting about the impact on whitetail deer, endangered species, livestock, pets, and rural communities. The consequences could reach far beyond individual animals, affecting wildlife management, conservation efforts, agriculture, and hunting traditions across America. Many experts view the New World screwworm as the most significant wildlife health threat our nation has faced in the last half-century. Unlike many diseases that weaken animals over time, screwworm larvae consume living tissue, creating horrific wounds that can ultimately lead to death if left untreated. In this episode, "Mr. Whitetail" Larry Weishuhn, a globally renown wildlife biologist shares firsthand memories from the battle again…