ELIZABETHTOWN — Essex County residents are advised that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently will conduct a summer distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits in August.
Rabies baits are used for field vaccination of skunks, raccoons and foxes as part of wildlife control programs to help prevent rabies in local wild animals.
The drops, beginning on or after Aug. 5, will happen statewide, including a northeastern portion of Essex County. Drop dates may vary.
The vaccine inside each bait has been tested and is safe for wildlife. If found, baits should be left undisturbed whenever possible.
“We often get questions about the rabies bait drops, especially during our busiest season,” ECHD Deputy Director Jessica Darney Buehler said in a press release.
“When wildlife eat the bait, it helps protect them from rabies and strengthens overall protection in the region.”
If the bait is in an area where kids or pets are, use gloves or a plastic bag to pick it up and place it in a nearby wooded area. Wash hands with soap and water.
Brief contact with an intact bait is typically not harmful. If the vaccine packet inside the bait is punctured and the liquid comes into contact with skin, do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. If necessary, seek necessary medical attention.
Eating the bait is not harmful to dogs or cats, though the fish-meal coating may cause mild stomach upset in some pets.
Do not attempt to retrieve a bait from a pet’s mouth; you could get bitten.
“Oral rabies vaccines for local wildlife is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of rabies and protect both people and pets,” ECHD Director of Public Health Linda Beers said in a press release.
“Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop, but it is entirely preventable. We use a variety of prevention strategies, including free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets; prompt investigation and follow-up when animal bites or exposures occur; and ongoing public education to help residents recognize risks and take appropriate precautions.”
For more information about the bait drops, contact ECHD at 518-873-3500 or visit aphis.usda.gov/national-wildlife-programs/rabies