Low-flying aircraft will be seen across Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture begins distributing oral rabies vaccine baits to help prevent the spread of raccoon rabies. The baiting effort is scheduled to take place from April 7 through April 15 as part of a larger cooperative program involving USDA Wildlife Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and other agencies.

Officials say more than 500,000 vaccine baits will be distributed across more than 7,000 square kilometers, or about 2,700 square miles, in Northwest Georgia. The bait zone includes parts of Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Murray, Pickens, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

The baits contain the RABORAL V-RG oral rabies vaccine and are coated with fish crumbles to attract raccoons and other wildlife. Distribution will be carried out by fixed-wing airplanes from April 7 through April 14, with helicopter operations expected from April 13 through April 15. Helicopter baiting is planned in Dalton, Chickamauga, LaFayette, Fort Oglethorpe, Ringgold, Rock Spring, Rome, and Tunnel Hill.

USDA says the program is aimed at protecting both public health and animal health by limiting the spread of rabies in wildlife populations. When baits are dropped by aircraft, navigators control the bait machines and shut them off as needed to avoid dropping baits on roadways, structures, and large bodies of water.

Residents who find a bait are encouraged to leave it alone so wildlife can consume it. If an intact bait is found in the open, it can be moved deeper into the woods or brush using gloves or a towel. Officials say people should wash their hands afterward if they handle a bait. Pet owners are also advised not to try to take baits away from pets, since they could be bitten in the process. While the baits are not considered harmful to pets, eating a large number of them could cause temporary stomach upset.

Anyone who comes into contact with the liquid vaccine inside a bait should wash their hands immediately and contact their local health department for guidance. For questions about the Wildlife Services Oral Rabies Vaccination Program, residents can call USDA at 1-866-487-3297.