Annual Vermont Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop has begun

August 5, 2023  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Rabies vaccine bait is packaged in small blister packs and dropped around Vermont each summer. Photo courtesy Vt. Department of Health

Amid an increase in reports of rabies in racoons, the annual Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop began this week as a joint project of the Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.

For nearly 30 years, the bait drop has been part of a nationally coordinated effort to prevent the spread of rabies – a fatal disease. 

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, 12 of which have been raccoons, according to the Health Department.

Approximately 265,000 quarter-sized blister packs containing rabies vaccine will be distributed in nearly 100 Vermont communities across Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington counties. In addition to the current drop, a special bait drop was done earlier in the year targeting wildlife in Chittenden County. 

The rabies vaccine is a sweet-smelling oral bait that is attractive to raccoons and skunks. When an animal bites into the bait, it takes in the oral vaccine and will develop immunity to rabies.

The bait packages are being placed by hand in residential areas beginning on Aug. 1. They will be dropped in rural areas from low-flying aircraft between Aug. 5 and 10. 

Officials say that the pilots are able to control the release of bait in order to avoid residential areas.  

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals and is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get the disease. The virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected animal. If left untreated, the disease is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, post-exposure treatment is 100% effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

Public Health Veterinarian Natalie Kwit with the Vermont Department of Health said the bait packs are not poisonous and are not harmful to people, pets or wildlife. “You can’t get rabies from the bait,” Kwit said, “but if you find a bait pack, please don’t touch it unless necessary. Leave the bait undisturbed so it can be eaten by wild animals.”

If the bait must be moved, use gloves or a plastic bag. 

If a pet eats a bait, or if a child brings one home, let officials know by calling the Vermont Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4-RABIES (1-800-472-2437) or call the toll-free number printed on the bait. 

And as a general reminder, wildlife officials remind Vermonters to enjoy wildlife from a safe distance. “While rabid animals may change their normal behavior, you can’t tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it,” said USDA Wildlife Biologist Owen Montgomery. “People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals that may appear abandoned. They most likely are not. Interacting with young wildlife may result in them being orphaned or require testing them for rabies.”

Testing an animal for rabies requires euthanizing it. Touching, moving, or picking up wild animals could put humans at risk of rabies or other diseases. Moving or handling wild animals can also help spread rabies into new areas. 

More tips and links

• If you see a wild or stray animal acting strangely or are concerned about a rabies exposure, call the Vermont Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4-RABIES (1-800-472-2437) or 1-802-223-8697.

• If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound very well with soap and water and contact your health care provider as soon as possible.
  Make sure your pets and farm animals are up-to-date on their rabies vaccines. State law requires dogs and cats (even barn cats) to be vaccinated against rabies.

• Always feed pets inside the house and keep them indoors at night. If they are outdoors during the day, keep them on a leash or in an enclosed space. Pets that roam free are more likely to be exposed to rabies. 

• If your pet or farm animal is bitten by a wild or stray animal that might have rabies, contact your veterinarian.

• Learn more about rabies in Vermont at HealthVermont.gov/Rabies

• See more about the 2023 Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop and where it is happening here.