East Aurora Advertiser

Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop Ongoing in Erie County


As it has done in previous years, the United States Department of Agriculture National Rabies Management Program is partnering with the Erie County Department of Health to distribute rabies vaccine to wildlife populations this summer. 

Oral rabies vaccine – small green packets the size of a quarter coin – were scheduled to be dropped from helicopters this week, starting Aug. 1. Ground bait distribution in urban and suburban areas of Erie County will begin around August 1 as well. 

Fixed-wing aircraft will run from about Aug. 15-18 for counties in Western New York: Erie, Alleghany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming. This schedule is dependent on weather conditions.

“Protecting pets with a rabies vaccine is easy enough with a visit to the veterinarian or one of our free rabies vaccine clinics,” Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein said. “Vaccinating wildlife in all corners of the county is much more challenging. But with the USDA and its oral rabies vaccination program, animals like raccoons, skunks and foxes – which are reservoirs for rabies virus – are protected against this deadly disease. This adds another layer of protection against rabies for pets and for humans.”

Residents who come in contact with wildlife vaccine packets can call the NYSDOH Rabies Information Line (888) 574-6656 with questions or concerns.

Do not disturb vaccine packets. Most packets are eaten within four days; almost all baits will be gone within a week. If packets are not found and eaten, they will harmlessly dissolve and the exposed vaccine will become inactivated. If you must move a vaccine packet, wear gloves or use a plastic bag or paper towel to pick it up. Place any damaged baits in the trash; throw intact baits into a wooded area or other raccoon/wildlife habitat.

Photo by Marty Wangelin

Residents should wash their hands immediately if they come into direct contact with the vaccine or packets, then call the NYSDOH Rabies Information Line at (888) 574-6656.

Confine dogs and cats indoors and observe leash laws during the bait distribution interval and for one week afterward. This will increase the probability of raccoon vaccination and decrease the chance of pets finding the baits.

Baits and vaccines are not harmful to domestic animals. However, an animal may vomit if it consumes several baits.

Residents should not risk being bitten while trying to remove bait from their pet’s mouth.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.