AUSTIN – As part of Texas’ increased chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance effort, state agencies have partnered to provide training opportunities for landowners/managers, taxidermists, and veterinarians on tissue sample collection for CWD testing.

Individuals who complete a 3 hour classroom and hands on workshop will be certified to collect samples from CWD susceptible species, such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, red deer and sika under the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collector training program.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TAHC and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service have partnered to coordinate two CWD post-mortem sample collector trainings in the Panhandle and Trans-Pecos.

Classes are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 26 in Amarillo at the AgriLife Extension Building, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd., and Nov. 17 in Van Horn at the Van Horn Convention Center, 1801 W. Broadway St.

To register for either training class contact Laura Leal with TAHC at (512) 650-0475 or email laura.leal@tahc.texas.gov. Individuals who participated in trainings last year are required to attend this year’s training to receive necessary check station supplies. Space is limited to the first 50 participants for each training and registration is mandatory to attend.

Current regulations mandate that CWD susceptible species harvested in parts of the Panhandle and Trans Pecos be tested for the disease. Details on testing requirements under the TAHC herd certification program, and additional information about CWD is available online.