Flesh-Eating Screwworm Outbreak Threatens Big Game Populations 🪰

Welcome to 4th best day of the week besides Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

So, while we continue to slowly inch back towards the weekend, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get into what this beautiful Tuesday has to offer.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

• Lord of the flies - A flesh-eating parasite is about to breach the southern border 🪰

• Tragic accident - Kayak fishermen found dead in California tournament 🙏

• Funding for access - New Montana bill made law in order to fund additional public access 🗝️

• You’re fired - Hunting group (finally) petitions for the removal of wildlife board members in Washington state 👌

• Working in tandem - Watch as trail cam footage captures two raccoons working a hen off her nest 🦝 

PASS THE DAMN BILL
FLESH-EATING SCREWWORM OUTBREAK THREATENS BIG GAME POPULATIONS

Despite having secured the border earlier this year, a new and uninvited visitor is threatening to make passage into the U.S. and stopping it isn’t quite as simple as shutting down entry points. 

A dangerous outbreak of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasitic fly, is spreading northward from Mexico, raising alarms among conservationists and wildlife experts about its potential to devastate big game populations near the southern border. The outbreak has already prompted significant action, including a halt on cattle trade with Mexico to curb the parasite’s spread, as announced by USDA Secretary Brook Rollins last week.

The New World screwworm poses a severe risk not only to livestock but also to big game species such as deer, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and whitetail deer. The parasite burrows into open wounds, feeding on living tissue and causing extensive damage to its hosts, which can include livestock, wildlife, birds, and, in rare cases, humans. Historical outbreaks highlight the danger, including a 2016 infestation in Florida that killed 132 endangered Key deer, and significantly impacted the threatened deer’s population recovery efforts…

🙏 Kayak Angler Tragically Dies During California Fishing Tournament. The West Coast kayak fishing community was struck by tragedy last weekend when 38-year-old angler Ryon Mora died during a Bass Angler Magazine (BAM) Tournament Trail event on Lake Almanor, California. The tournament began under typical conditions with cloudy skies and a light breeze, but at 6:37 a.m., BAM Tournament Director Michael Bray received an urgent call about an unmanned kayak. BAM staff, including CEO Mark Lassagne, quickly located Mora in the water at 6:42 a.m. Despite wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), Mora was unresponsive when pulled onto the BAM media boat. Emergency responders performed CPR and transported him to paramedics, who were unable to revive him after 45 minutes of effort. The tournament was canceled immediately following the incident.

The cause of Mora’s death remains under investigation by the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office, with no clear details on the circumstances leading to the incident. Mora was a respected competitor and beloved member of the kayak fishing community, known for adhering to safety protocols during the sanctioned event. The BAM organization expressed profound sorrow, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of outdoor activities and extending condolences to Mora’s family and friends.

🧑‍⚖️ New Montana Law Boosts Funding for Public Hunter Access. A new Montana law, House Bill 145, was signed into effect last week, will increase hunting license fees for nonresidents in an effort to generate significant revenue for public hunter access programs. The legislation aims to enhance opportunities for hunters by funding initiatives that open private lands to public use, particularly through the state’s block management programs.

The law is expected to raise approximately $2.9 million annually, with around $2.5 million directed to Montana’s hunting access account. Eighty percent of these funds will support block management programs, which compensate landowners for allowing public hunting on their property. This initiative strengthens access to Montana’s vast landscapes, balancing conservation and recreational opportunities while supporting local landowners.

👉 Hunting Group Seeks Removal of Four Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioners. Late last week, the Sportsman’s Alliance Foundation, a national hunting advocacy group, petitioned Washington Governor Bob Ferguson to remove four Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners—Barbara Baker, Lorna Smith, Melanie Rowland, and John Lehmkuhl—citing alleged improper conduct. The group claims that over 17,000 internal documents, obtained through a public records request following a 2023 vote to end spring bear hunting, show the commissioners violated legal norms by discussing upcoming votes and issues via email, which the Alliance calls “bad government on steroids.”

The petition is part of ongoing tensions surrounding the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s nine-member commission, which oversees hunting and fishing regulations. Hunters criticize the commission for decisions like ending spring bear hunting and altering cougar regulations, viewing them as anti-hunting, while environmentalists argue the panel favors hunters at wildlife’s expense. A December 2024 report from the William D. Ruckelshaus Center labeled the commission as “dysfunctional,” reflecting widespread frustration. The Sportsman’s Alliance’s push follows a lawsuit over delayed records and recent controversies, including rescinded commissioner appointments by Governor Ferguson, highlighting deep divisions in Washington’s wildlife management.

1. My grandfather turned 91 this month. He never established a morning routine, doesn’t cold plunge and has never heard of AG1.

   There’s a bunch of lessons in there.

2. It’s kind of discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and yet how few by deceit.

3. You owe it to yourself to get on with what you’re good at.

4. Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas.  Worry when they stop.

5. Longer tables, not higher fences 🙏 

VIDEO // ^{_{SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN}}

🦝 This is just plain old awesome trail camera footage of a pair of raccoons working together. Watch as two raccoons sneak up on a hen sitting on her nest in the cover the darkness. Working in tandem, one flushes her off the nest in order to claim a nice meal that she had been keeping warm for them.

It’s unfortunate for those of us that love turkeys, but we are incredibly lucky to capture this kind of stuff on camera…

Oh, and one more thing…