Annual Oral Vaccination Starts in April - See FAQs

Local raccoons will soon receive essential medication disguised as a tasty treat as the annual oral rabies vaccination project gets underway.

Starting on April 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services and the North Carolina Department of Health will distribute thousands of baits by planes, ground vehicles, and helicopters throughout western North Carolina including Buncombe County and Asheville.

The distribution is scheduled to go through mid-April but is dependent on weather and other factors.

This is all part of an effort to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies by containing and eliminating the virus. This program has been active since 2005 and is a safe and effective way to prevent the spread of rabies among wildlife, pets, and humans.

How does this program work?

Baits containing the vaccine will be distributed throughout the region. Raccoons’ foraging behaviors ensure the animals find the baits. The baits contain a vaccine that once consumed by a raccoon will vaccinate the animal against the rabies virus.

What’s in the baits?

The baits consist of a plastic packet containing the rabies vaccine. To make the baits attractive, the packets are sprinkled with a fishmeal coating or encased inside hard fishmeal–polymer blocks about the size of a matchbox. 

What happens if my dog or cat consumes the bait?

This vaccine is safe in over 60 different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats. Eating a large number of baits may cause a temporary upset stomach in your pet but does not pose a long-term health risk. Do not attempt to remove the bait from your pet; doing so may cause you to be bitten.

What do I do if I see a bait?

If you find a bait, leave it where you found it unless it is on your lawn, driveway, or other area unlikely to attract raccoons. While wearing a glove, you can move the bait to an area of thicker cover where raccoons are more likely to find it.

What if I or my child touch the bait?

If the bait is intact, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. An intact bait will not harm you, but the fishmeal smell may get on your skin. If a bait is broken and the liquid vaccine is visible, use gloves to place the bait in a bag and dispose of it with your regular trash. Once the bait has ruptured, it will no longer be effective. Again, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact with a bait.

The vaccine does not contain the live rabies virus; however, it contains a single gene that may cause a local pox-type infection in people who are pregnant or have an immunodeficiency disease. Anyone who comes into contact with the liquid vaccine should wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and call the phone number listed on the bait or Buncombe County Health and Human Services at 828-250-5109 for further instructions and referral. 

If you see strange-acting animals, please report them to your local animal control office. Call Buncombe County Animal Services at8282506670, City of Asheville Animal Services Division at8282521110, or Wildlife Services at 1-866-487-3297.

General rabies prevention:

Please do not feed wildlife. It could lead to rabies exposure.
Avoid contact with all wildlife, even innocent or orphaned juveniles.  
Please do not move wildlife. 
Your pets need vaccines too! Please make sure to vaccinate your domestic pets and livestock to protect them from contracting the rabies virus. Asheville Humane Society regularly hosts vaccine clinics providing low-cost vaccines for dogs and cats.

Buncombe County Government

Cover Image: WNCTimes