• TWDMS Publications

The Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service is the largest wildlife damage management agency in the United States protecting the resources, property and well-being of Texans from damages related to wildlife. Each year, the agency provides service to more than 5,680 properties on 19.8 million acres. One recent example of the agency's impact on the state is its major role in the cooperative Texas Oral Rabies Project, which immunizes coyotes via an oral rabies vaccine. The agency provided 60 percent of the personnel involved in this vital cooperative project focused on protecting Texans health and safety.

The agency serves rural and urban areas with technical assistance, education and direct control in wildlife damage management. With $75 million in annual resource losses to Texas wildlife, the agency's importance continues to grow.

Profile

The Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service (TWDMS) is a wildlife management agency that alleviates and manages the negative impacts of wildlife. TWDMS was established in 1929 as the Rodent Control Service, and in 1951 predatory animal control responsibility was added. The agency provides statewide leadership in the science, education and practice of wildlife damage management to protect the state s agricultural, industrial and natural resources as well as the public s health, safety and property in cooperation with federal, state and private entities. Under the administration of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, TWDMS is a cooperative program between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Texas Animal Damage Control Association, a private organization.

Achievements

TWDMS has received special recognition from the USDA for its participation in the field testing and implementation of the Texas Oral Rabies Project. This project has been critical to the development of an oral rabies vaccine and delivery system to immunize coyotes and gray fox in the wild. Last year, TWDMS cooperated in the aerial distribution of 2.6 million oral rabies vaccine baits covering an area of 42,000 square miles. This largest single application of oral rabies vaccine baits in the world required aircraft to fly miles equal to that of 4.25 times around the world. TWDMS continues to monitor the efficacy of the project through the collection of appropriate biological samples.

Programs

TWDMS achieves its objectives by providing technical assistance and direct control services. Through these strategies, TWDMS provides assistance in the protection of the following:

• Human health and safety by reducing the transmission of wildlife-borne disease and controlling birds and animals that threaten human safety
• Facilities, structures and other properties to reduce damages and losses from rodents, birds and other wildlife
• Crops, timber and rangeland to reduce economic losses from rodents, birds and other wildlife
• Livestock to reduce losses from wildlife depredation and wildlife-borne disease
• Wildlife in which animal damage control is the necessary part of the management of a particular species.

Personnel/Facilities

The agency's headquarters are in San Antonio, and nine district offices are located throughout the state. TWDMS works in conjunction with the USDA and the Texas Animal Damage Control Association to employ 195 personnel across Texas. TWDMS employs 87; the USDA, 36; and the Texas Animal Damage Control Association, 72.

Facts

• The Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service (TWDMS) conducts in excess of 7,000 technical assistance projects each year.
• During the past year, TWDMS collected more than 1700 animal-to-human disease samples from wildlife in 50 counties.
• TWDMS protects threatened and endangered species from more dominant wildlife species.
• TWDMS was formerly known as the Texas Animal Damage Control Service.