The Tennessee Dept. of Health will work with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to prevent rabies in wild raccoons with the aerial distribution of oral vaccine packets along Tennessee’s borders with Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia this October.
Aircraft Distribution will begin October 10th to October 15th in rural areas of Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie counties.
If you find a bait packet do not touch it and instruct children to leave them alone. If your pet finds a bait packet, confine your pet and look for other baits in the area. Wear gloves to toss the bait packet into a wooded or fencerow area. Then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Each bait packet is marked with a toll-free number (1-877-722-6725) for assistance or information if someone finds, or comes in contact with a bait packet.
For more information on rabies prevention or the oral rabies vaccine program, call the USDA Wildlife Services toll-free rabies line at 1-866-487-3297 or call TDH at 1-615-741-7247