LOS FRESNOS – Wildlife officials are working to control the spread of a dangerous tick by authorizing a new round of hunts on a federal refuge.

The dangerous tick is the cattle fever tick and federal wildlife officials are trying to cut down the migration of that parasite by eliminating the non-native species that carry it.

The Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge struggles with the population of animals it doesn’t want, such as feral, hogs, fallow deer, otherwise known as a non-native deer; and nilgai, an antelope originally from around Pakistan.

The refuge manager says the fallow deer and nilgai carry the fever tick.

Parts of the Rio Grande Valley have set up a special quarantine to keep the cattle fever tick out of the rest of Texas. This type of tick can be deadly if they infect cattle.

The hunts are scheduled for Apr. 7 and Apr. 8.

Eighty permits will go out on a first come, first serve basis at the refuge office.

Permits will be $60 a piece and will be sold at the refuge office from Mar. 5 through Mar. 9.

The hunts will target feral hogs, fallow deer and nilgai. Animals the refuge says damage infrastructure, habitats and compete with native species for food and water.