Annual Rabies Bait Drop Protects People and Pets

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Health is partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help prevent rabies by distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons along Tennessee's borders with Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The annual baiting program administered by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, will begin in Tennessee on October 7, 2026.

''Rabies is a serious public health concern. Controlling the spread of raccoon rabies helps keep people, pets and livestock safe.'' said Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dunn. ''We're pleased to once again partner with USDA Wildlife Services in this important and effective program to reduce rabies risk in our state.''

While rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, it also is 100% preventable. Human exposures can be successfully remedied if medical attention is sought immediately following exposure.

During the operation, coated sachet baits, which are coated with an oily, fish-scented substance to attract raccoons, containing the RABORAL V-RG® or ONRAB oral rabies vaccine (ORV) will be distributed across portions of Bradley, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamilton, Johnson, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties targeting raccoons and other wildlife. These baits will be distributed by low-flying airplanes and helicopters. Each bait is marked with a toll-free number (1-877-722-6725) for people to call for assistance or information if they find or come in contact with a bait.

Although the vaccine products are safe, the USDA Wildlife Services program has issued these precautions:
• If you find baits, leave them alone, unless they are where children or pets play.
• If you or your pet finds an intact bait out in the open, confine your pet and look for other baits in the area. These baits should be removed from where your pet could easily eat them.
• Wear gloves or use a towel or a plastic bag and toss baits into a wooded or brush area where wildlife is more likely to find it.
• Eating the baits won't harm your pet, but consuming a large number of baits might upset your pet's stomach.
• Do not try to remove a bait from your pet's mouth, as you could be bitten.
• Wear gloves or use a towel or plastic bag when you pick up bait. While there is no harm in touching intact baits, they have a strong fishmeal smell.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if there is any chance the vaccine packet has been ruptured.
• Instruct children to leave baits alone.
• A warning label on each bait advises people not to touch the bait, and contains the rabies information line telephone number.

For more information on rabies prevention of the oral rabies vaccine program, call the USDA Wildlife Services toll-free rabies line at 1-866-487-3297 or the Tennessee Department of Health at 615-741-7247. You may also find rabies information on the USDA website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/national-wildlife-programs/rabies and TDH website at https://www.tn.gov/health/rabies.html.

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to Protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of all people in Tennessee.