Rabies Vaccine Baits set for Clay, Cherokee Airplane Drops Oct. 15–22

Staff Report

Low-flying airplanes are scheduled to drop oral rabies vaccine baits over rural Clay and Cherokee counties from about October 15 through October 22.

The drops are run by USDA Wildlife Services with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Clay and Cherokee are among 17 western counties on the airplane list, along with Graham, Macon, Jackson, Swain, Haywood, and others. Helicopter drops October 9–13 are limited to the Asheville, Burnsville, Mars Hill, and Waynesville areas, and ground crews are working inside Asheville October 5–9. Those methods are not planned here. Work should finish by late October, weather permitting.

About 600,000 baits are set for North Carolina this year, part of more than 2.4 million across western North Carolina, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and north-central Alabama. One base is the Andrews project, covering western North Carolina and north Georgia.

The baits are matchbox-sized packets coated or packed with fishmeal so raccoons will eat them. Biting the packet releases the vaccine. People and pets cannot get rabies from the baits.

The program has run in North Carolina since 2005 to hold raccoon rabies east of the Appalachians.

“The best way to prevent rabies is to ensure pets and mammals that are intended to be in public contact are vaccinated,” Dr. Carl Williams, NCDHHS public health veterinarian, said. State law requires dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated by four months of age. The baits do not replace a vet vaccine.

Leave baits alone unless one is on a lawn or driveway. Then move it with gloves or a towel into thicker cover. Do not pull a packet from a pet’s mouth. Tell children not to handle them. If a packet breaks on skin or is swallowed, wash with soap and water and call the number on the bait, 1-877-722-6725, or the local health department.