Texas Porch

Wildlife / Sick or strange animals

Wildlife diseases.

A big reason for 'look, don't touch': wild animals can carry diseases. Never handle sick or dead wildlife, and report unusual die-offs to TPWD.

Rabies

The serious one. It's carried mainly by bats, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons - the same animals it's illegal to move. Warning signs in an animal: acting tame or aggressive, stumbling, drooling, or out in daylight when it should be nocturnal. Never touch a wild mammal that's acting strangely. If a person or pet is bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and water, see a doctor immediately, and report it to your local health department or animal control. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms start - but post-exposure shots work if you act fast. Treat any bat found near a sleeping person, child, or pet as a possible exposure.

New World Screwworm

A flesh-eating fly larva. As of June 2026 it has been confirmed in Texas - the first U.S. cases in decades, with a state disaster declaration in response. If you see maggots on a LIVE animal, report it right away: TPWD or a local wildlife biologist for wild animals at (512) 389-4505, or the Texas Animal Health Commission for livestock and pets at (800) 550-8242. Early reporting matters. This is a fast-moving situation - check the official page for the latest.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Affects deer and elk - and in Texas, exotic cervids like red deer and sika deer too. Don't handle deer that look sick or act strangely; hunters should follow TPWD's CWD rules (see the Hunting hub).

Bird flu (avian influenza)

Can kill wild birds, especially waterfowl. Don't handle sick or dead birds, keep pets away, and report large bird die-offs to your local TPWD wildlife biologist.

White-nose syndrome

A fungus that kills bats (it doesn't infect people). If you explore caves, clean and decontaminate your gear to avoid spreading it.

Keep going

Around the house

The bat-in-a-bedroom rule.

Get it handled ->

Predators

Rabies-vector animals.

Stay safe ->

A baby or hurt animal

Why not to handle it.

What to do ->

Wildlife hub

Back to the main guide.

Open the hub ->

Official sources

Rabies guidance comes from Texas DSHS; wildlife-disease and screwworm information comes from TPWD. If a person or pet is bitten or scratched, see a doctor right away.

Data vintage:
Wildlife-disease info as reviewed June 2026
Last reviewed:
June 15, 2026

Caution: Screwworm and other disease situations change fast. The official pages are the final word - and for any rabies exposure, see a doctor immediately.

Spot something that needs a Texas check? This first pass is built to be polished over time. Send the page name, county, parcel context if relevant, and the official source you are looking at. Email Texas Porch.