Residents in Chattooga County can expect to see low-flying aircraft again this fall as the U.S. Department of Agriculture prepares for another oral rabies vaccine bait distribution across Northwest Georgia in October.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services program is conducting the operation as part of its continuing effort to stop the westward spread of raccoon rabies.

The Northwest Georgia vaccination area includes portions of Chattooga, Walker, Floyd, Gordon, Dade, Catoosa, Whitfield, Bartow, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, Rabun, Towns and Union counties.

USDA says its Dalton-based October operation will distribute approximately 648,000 oral rabies vaccine baits across portions of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee using airplanes and helicopters.

A separate operation based in Andrews, North Carolina, will distribute approximately 415,000 additional baits across western North Carolina and North Georgia.

The baits are small packets containing RABORAL V-RG oral rabies vaccine and are coated with fishmeal crumbles designed to attract raccoons and other wildlife.

When a raccoon bites into a bait, the vaccine is released into its mouth, helping the animal develop immunity to rabies. The goal is to create a vaccinated wildlife barrier that prevents the raccoon variant of rabies from continuing to spread westward.

USDA says the vaccine cannot cause rabies and has been shown to be safe in more than 60 species of animals, including dogs and cats.

Residents who find one of the baits are generally encouraged to leave it alone so wildlife can consume it. If an intact bait must be moved, USDA recommends wearing gloves or using a towel and tossing it into nearby woods or brush.

Pet owners should not try to take a bait away from an animal because of the possibility of being bitten. Eating several baits could cause temporary stomach upset in dogs or cats, but USDA says the baits are not considered harmful to pets.

Anyone who comes into direct contact with the liquid vaccine inside a packet should wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and contact their local health department for guidance.

USDA has confirmed the October 2026 operation, although exact dates for the Northwest Georgia aerial distribution have not yet been announced.