Vaccine baiting begins to prevent rabies in raccoons
Bait will be raining down from the skies over the next month in Western Pennsylvania as federal, state and county officials work to distribute oral vaccine treatments for raccoons to prevent the spread of rabies.
The bait will be spread from now until Sept. 1 using mostly low-flying airplanes or helicopters in Allegheny, Washington and Greene counties, along with communities in Fayette County near the Monongahela River.
Places along the Route 19 corridor in Washington County and many South Hills communities in Allegheny County will have the bait placed by local teams on the ground.
The vaccine packets are coated in fishmeal or vanilla, which will be a “very tasty” treat for raccoons. It does not cause rabies, according to the baiting organizers.
The bait is not harmful to pets unless they eat large quantities of packets, which could cause vomiting or diarrhea. If a pet does eat the bait, keep them away from that area for a few days so they don’t eat more, and avoid the animal’s saliva for 24 hours, or wash skin or wounds that may be licked.
Bait should be left where it lays, although intact packets can be moved by people wearing gloves if they appear in areas where children normally play.
The baiting is being performed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Rabies Management Program, with the assistance of state and county officials.