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Tennessee officials will drop raccoon bait spiked with marshmallow-flavored rabies vaccine to prevent outbreak from spreading among forest bugs
- The Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services, along with the Tennessee Department of Health, are dropping rabies vaccines into the air
- The vaccines are packaged in fishmeal, but they are also testing a marshmallow-flavored vaccine in the field
- The oral vaccines aim to stop the spread of the deadly virus in the area’s wild raccoon community
- dr. Tennessee state epidemiologist John Dunn said: ‘Controlling raccoon rabies keeps people, pets and livestock safe’
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A round of rabies vaccines will be sent to raccoons in the southeastern United States with a sweet twist.
The Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services, along with the Tennessee Department of Health, are airdropping rabies vaccines to the critters wrapped in fishmeal, while field testing a marshmallow-flavored vaccine.
Low-flying helicopters will land in the Volunteer State from October 3 to October 15, along with some of their neighboring states, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
The oral vaccines are intended to stop the spread of the deadly virus in the area’s wild raccoon community, according to ABC 24.
dr. Tennessee state epidemiologist John Dunn said, “Controlling raccoon rabies keeps people, pets and livestock safe. We are excited to partner with USDA Wildlife Services in this program to reduce rabies in the wild and protect the community.”
A round of rabies vaccines will be sent to raccoons in the southeastern United States with a sweet twist
The Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services, along with the Tennessee Department of Health, are airdropping rabies vaccines to the critters wrapped in fishmeal as they test a marshmallow-flavored vaccine in the field.
The oral vaccines aim to stop the spread of the deadly virus in the area’s wild raccoon community
Low-flying helicopters will land in the Volunteer State from October 3 to October 15, along with some of their neighboring states, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
There will be USDA warnings on all vaccines in an effort to keep people and especially children away from them
The USDA is currently testing the marshmallow-flavored experimental vaccine and will be distributed in other parts of the Appalachians.
This particular vaccine, known as Onrab, has been tested for several years to determine its environmental impact and has been tested on raccoons in Ohio and has been successful.
The USDA is warning people that while the bait packs are safe, people should take precautions — removal from areas where pets can eat them, locking up any pets they do find — if they see them.
While one won’t harm your pet if they eat them, experts say several can upset the stomach and pet owners should not try to remove it from their pet’s mouth to avoid possible biting.
There will be USDA warnings on all vaccines in an effort to keep people and especially children away from them.