Texas Officials Cull 249 Deer to Combat 'Zombie Deer Disease'

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department culled 249 white-tailed deer from Robert Williams' RW Trophy Ranch in Terrell, marking the largest chronic wasting disease (CWD) outbreak in Texas. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that eradicating the deer did not violate Williams' property rights, as the state owns all white-tailed deer. CWD, a fatal neurological condition affecting cervids, has been detected in 34 states and five Canadian provinces. The disease has spread to 30 Texas counties, with Hunt, Uvalde, and Medina counties accounting for over 68% of the state's cases.