Efforts Underway to Protect Endangered Key Deer on Big Pine Key

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–The Key deer, a subspecies of the white-tailed deer, are federally endangered and live solely on islands in the lower Florida Keys from Little Pine Key to Sugarloaf Key and a few surrounding small islands. This is the only place in the world where Key deer are found, and in the 1950s, only 25-50 of these deer were in existence. Since the National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 and the Key deer became one of the first species protected under the Endangered Species Act, their population has climbed back up to approximately 1,000 individuals with the core population on Big Pine Key and No Name Key.

However, their existence is being threatened by a foreign pest called “screwworms,” which feed on animal tissue. According to Dan Clark, Manager of the Florida Keys Wildlife Refuges Complex, more than 50 Key deer were in such deteriorated conditions that euthanasia was necessary, with at least eight having been euthanized between last Sunday and Monday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as well as partnering agencies, are implementing an aggressive eradication effort in order not only to protect the Key deer, but also to protect human health, Florida’s livestock industry, and other animals including pets should the pest spread.

Since the 1950s, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been used to control screwworm flies and other insects, and there have been no known negative effects to people, animals or the environment.  It was first developed in the United States and used to eradicate the flies in the United States, Mexico and Central America.  The United States currently maintains a barrier zone in the Darien Gap located in Panama, and this technique is used around the United States and across the globe. SIT is the scientifically proven lynchpin in eradication efforts.

About SIT:

  • Since the 1950s, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been used to control screwworm flies and other insects.  It was first developed in the United States and used to eradicate the flies in this country, Mexico and Central America. The United States maintains a barrier zone in the Darien Gap located in Panama.
  • The Darien Gap is a land mass located between Panama and Columbia. It is used as a permanent sterile fly barrier zone to control the screwworm fly.
  • Large quantities of sterilized male screwworm flies are regularly released from aircraft to maintain this barrier zone and to control fly migration.
  • The SIT involves breeding huge quantities of target insects and sterilizing them.
  • SIT does not involve the release of insects modified through genetic engineering processes.  In fact, SIT is considered by USDA one of the most environmentally friendly insect pest control methods ever developed.
  • Sterile flies are not self-replicating and, therefore, cannot become established in the environment.
  • SIT does not introduce non-native species into an ecosystem.
  • SIT would be implemented in Big Pine and No Name keys beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Additional Information on the Screwworm Infestation

New World screwworms are fly larvae (maggots) that can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people. They most often enter an animal through an open wound and feed on the animal’s living flesh.  While they can fly much farther under ideal conditions, adult flies generally do not travel more than a couple of miles if there are suitable host animals in the area. New World screwworm is more likely to spread long distances when infested animals move to new areas and carry the pest there.

Overall response efforts include: fly trapping to determine the extent of the infestation, release of sterile flies to eliminate the screwworm fly population, and disease surveillance to look for additional cases in animals.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has established an Animal Health Check Zone from mile marker 91 south. Animals traveling north will be given health checks at a station located at mile marker 106 to ensure that they do not have screwworm. This checkpoint will ensure that the screwworm does not travel north and infest other areas of Florida.

Residents who have warm-blooded animals (pets, livestock, etc.) should watch their animals carefully and report any potential cases to 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352) or non-Florida residents should call (850) 410-3800.  Visitors to the area should ensure any pets that are with them are also checked, in order to prevent the spread of this infestation.

While human cases of new world screwworm are rare, they have occurred, and public health officials are involved in the response.  For more information about this disease in humans, please contact your local public health department.

More information is available at FreshFromFlorida.com.

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