The Screwworm Outbreak: A Texas-Sized Threat That Reminds Us of Our Granbury Grit

Texas has seen its fair share of battles.

Some against man, some against nature, and some against things so small you can barely see them until the damage is done.

Right now, one of those tiny invaders is back in the headlines: the screwworm.

For folks who haven’t heard of it, the screwworm isn’t your average cattle pest. It’s a flesh-eating parasite that burrows into wounds—any open cut on livestock, wildlife, or even pets—and it doesn’t stop until the host is dead or treated.

Nasty business.

Screwworms were almost completely eradicated from the U.S. decades ago thanks to a massive government program, but the recent outbreak is proof that nature never really lets you hang up your spurs.

Why It Matters in Texas

In places like Granbury, ranching isn’t just an old tradition—it’s a way of life that still feeds families and keeps the community tight. Cows, horses, goats, even deer running across the back roads, all could be at risk.

If this parasite spreads unchecked, it’s not just animals that suffer. It’s the rancher’s livelihood, the community’s economy, and the pride we Texans take in being able to stand tall on our own land.

A Look Back: Texas vs. the Screwworm

The last time screwworms made headlines here, it was the 1950s and 60s.

Ranchers were losing animals left and right, and Washington actually stepped in with scientists and field workers to release sterilized flies, slowly wiping out the population.

It was one of the rare times when science, government, and local grit came together to solve a problem bigger than any one rancher could handle alone.

But like mesquite brush or fire ants, the screwworm doesn’t die easy. It waits. It lurks. And when the weather, the borders, and the wildlife line up just right, it finds a way back.

How Ranchers Handle It Today

The average Texan may not see it, but ranchers are on edge. Every scrape on a cow’s leg has to be inspected. Every calf born on the back 40 gets looked over like it’s the Alamo standing guard.

The treatment isn’t cheap, and vigilance never sleeps.

Local vets are putting the word out—inspect wounds daily, report anything suspicious, and don’t hesitate to call in help.

Some ranchers are already partnering to share the cost of monitoring and treatment, the way good neighbors always do when the stakes are high.

What It Says About Granbury Grit

Here in Granbury, we’ve always had to fight things bigger than ourselves. Tornadoes that level homes. Summers that crack the earth until it looks like a jigsaw puzzle. Droughts that make you question if rain is ever coming back.

And now, flesh-eating worms.

It sounds like a horror movie, but to Texans, it’s just another day we roll up our sleeves and deal with what comes. That’s what grit is—not the absence of fear, but the steady hand and clear eyes to face it.

Whether you’re a rancher staring down a screwworm outbreak, a small business owner keeping your doors open in tough times, or a parent teaching kids the value of hard work, it’s all the same spirit: you don’t give up, and you don’t back down.

How Granbury Deals with the Screwworm Outbreak

The screwworm outbreak is serious business, no doubt about it. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Texas doesn’t bow to problems—we find a way to beat them, with a mix of stubbornness, smarts, and neighborly hands pitched in together.

So, if you hear the news and feel a shiver, remember this: it’s just another reminder that Granbury and towns like it are built on resilience.

Out here, you either develop grit—or the world develops it for you.