I remembering seeing the boxes on our family land in Live Oak county and then on hunting leases back in the 60's and into the 70's. I also remember FFA and 4H show animals getting screwworms in the early 70's... when I was in high school. I remember using a paste type and IIRC a spray type to treat the worms.

My granddad was a foreman on a ranch in Lampasas County and I remember helping him treat screw worms. I remember that smell would make me gag for hours it seemed. It was always a stressful time on the lookout for screw worm infestations. Spent alot of time on horseback watching and waiting. It wasn't until later that I really appreciated how happy granddad was when he'd find a fly box that had been dropped on the ranch. He always said that was one of the best things that happened to livestock raisers.

I forgot to mention earlier that once they were somewhat under control, if you had a case or more you would send a sample of the worms in a small container to Mission along with your address. If they were screwworms, in a few days you might hear a plane flying overhead. If you were lucky, you would see them drop the boxes. I need to look because at one time I had a couple of those boxes stuck away in the barn. Heck of a souvenir. If I can find one I will take a picture of it and post it here. Too many don't have a clue what we went through back then with those worms.

I had never heard of this topic before and all of my education on Screwworms I've learned on here, so I'm not sure where that leaves me... I guess one highly educated mf'er, right?

I was reading this story today about mosquitoes in FL and thought it was somewhat similar. What was the initial reaction from folks here in Tx about the spreading of the modified Screwworms as a fix to the problem?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-residents-uproar-scientists-prepare-155808739.html

Charlie

Even now when I hear the word "Peerless" I get a sick feeling in my gut. Peerless made a red liquid, looked similar to Big Red, that we would pour in the wound where the screw worms were. They would come wiggling out and fall on the ground and die. We would then smear Franklin Screw Worm Smear, a nasty black, stinky paste all around the hole to keep the flies from laying eggs around the wound and starting the whole process over.

Every single calf would have to be treated in the navel. Just the slightest cut or puncture anywhere would end up with an infestation. It was a terrible time for the rancher.

I'm probably gonna have nightmares tonight just because I remembered it. Sheesh!!!

I never really understood what it meant to deal with screw worms until now. This is a great thread. I am so grateful that they were eradicated before my time!

And that stuff stunk to high heaven!!!!!

Sometimes I'm amazed that folks are in the cattle business. A lot of work, a lot of potential disasters.