The Tennessee Department of Health is collaborating with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent rabies by distributing oral rabies vaccines for wild raccoons along Tennessee’s borders with Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, will commence the annual baiting program in Tennessee on October 5, 2024.
Starting on or around October 5, coated sachet baits containing the RABORAL V-RG® or ONRAB oral rabies vaccine (ORV) will be dispersed across parts of Bledsoe, Bradley, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamilton, Hawkins, Johnson, Marion, McMinn, Monroe, Polk, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties. These baits will be distributed via low-flying airplanes and helicopters targeting raccoons and other wildlife.
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The aerial bait drop will last approximately three weeks. Aircraft navigators will control the bait machines, ensuring baits are not dropped on roadways, structures, or large bodies of water. The ORV baits, plastic packets coated with a fish-scented substance to attract raccoons, are marked with a toll-free number (1-877-722-6725) for assistance or information if found.
The distribution schedule is as follows:
**Helicopter Distribution (Urban Areas):**
– October 6-9: Hamilton and Bradley counties
– October 9-11: Greene, Hawkins, Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi, and Washington counties
**Airplane Distribution (Rural Areas):**
– October 11-17: Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie counties
– October 5-11: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties
Rabies, once it develops, is almost always fatal but is entirely preventable with timely vaccination. This initiative marks the 24th year of Tennessee’s participation in rabies vaccine baiting. No cases of raccoon variant rabies have been documented in Tennessee this year. Since its detection in 2003, raccoon rabies has spread more slowly in Tennessee compared to other regions in the United States.
Despite the safety of the vaccine products, the USDA Wildlife Services program has issued the following precautions:
– If you or your pet finds a vaccine bait package, confine your pet and check the area for additional baits. Use gloves or a towel to toss baits into a wooded area, away from pets. Consuming several baits might upset your pet’s stomach, although eating them is not harmful.
– Do not attempt to remove an oral rabies vaccine packet from your pet’s mouth to avoid being bitten.
– Always use gloves or a towel when handling baits. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water if the vaccine packet is ruptured.
– Instruct children to avoid touching the baits.
– Each bait has a warning label advising people not to touch it and includes the rabies information line telephone number.
For more information on rabies prevention or the oral rabies vaccine program, call the USDA Wildlife Services toll-free rabies line at 866-487-3297 or the Tennessee Department of Health at 615-741-7247. Additional information is available on the USDA website at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/programs/nrmp/ct_rabies_vaccine_info and the TDH website at www.tn.gov/health/information-for-individuals/i/fact-sheets/rabies.html.
The Tennessee Department of Health advises the public to enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats from a distance.
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