The purpose of this agreement is maintain cattle fever tick from spreading

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $440,715 to the Texas Animal Health Commission on April 28, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to construct and repair eight-foot wildlife exclusion fencing designed to prevent cattle fever tick host animals from spreading disease northward into uninfected areas.

The Texas Animal Health Commission will construct new eight-foot-high fencing at two separate locations in Willacy County (Port Mansfield and HP El Sauz) and repair existing fencing at two additional Willacy County locations (East Foundation and the Floodway). In Cameron County, the Commission will construct new eight-foot-high fencing at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge–La Selva Verde. These fences target white-tailed deer and nilgai, which serve as effective cattle fever tick hosts and can distribute infested ticks across large home ranges. Nilgai maintain home ranges of up to 75,000 acres. The fencing will be installed in areas identified as strategically important to prevent tick host wildlife access into cattle fever tick-free areas and will not obstruct public or private road access, be installed in township areas, or cross water resources including streams and arroyos.

Performance occurs across Willacy and Cameron counties in Texas. The period of performance runs from April 28, 2026 through March 31, 2027. The obligation amount is $440,715.

The texas animal health commission is concerned about the impact white tail deer and nilgai located in willacy and cameron county have in spreading cattle fever ticks north into kenedy county and beyond. The white tail deer can serve as an effective cattle fever tick host and distribute engorged female ticks within their core areas and home ranges. Nilgai are also hosts of the cattle fever ticks and are free ranging in willacy and cameron county. Nilgai have large home ranges consisting of up to 75,000 acres for young cows (foley ET AL. 2017). Willacy county: the texas animal health commission is proposing to construct an 8-feet high fence at two separate locations (port mansfield and HP EL sauz) situated in willacy county. In addition, texas animal health commission is proposing to repair an existing 8-feet high fence on two separate locations (east foundation and the floodway) that are also situated in willacy county. Based on surveillance data of cattle fever ticks detected in willacy county. These fences will be installed in areas identified as being strategically important to prevent access of cattle fever tick host wildlife (white tail deer and nilgai) into cattle fever tick -free areas of willacy county. The high-game fence will not obstruct public or private access on any roads or driveways, or be installed within township areas, or installed across water resources, including streams and arroyos. Cameron county: the texas animal health commission is proposing to construct an 8-feet high fence at one location, laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge - LA selva verde, situated in central cameron county. LA selva verde is heavily populated with white tail deer and nilgai and is situated amongst several adjacent premises infested with cattle fever ticks. This fence will be installed to eliminate the movement of infested white tail deer and nilgai from LA selva verde onto the adjacent premises and surrounding areas of cameron county. The high-game fence will not obstruct public or private access on any roads or driveways, or be installed within township areas, or installed across water resources, including streams and arroyos. Recipient will purchase all the materials and provide labor and fencing equipment to install the 8 FT. Cattle fence. Control and eradication of the cattle fever tick in the cameron and willacy county area is necessary to prevent possible spread. The construction of the game fence in southern kenedy county will deter the movement of white-tailed deer and nilgai antelope from willacy county, thereby facilitating cattle fever tick eradication efforts in this area. A completed job completion report will be required as well as regular inspections of the project by the program manager. Intended beneficiaries include the local landowners, communities and the beef industry as a whole. No subrecipients.