01/28/2023
𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙪𝙥! 🦝
Seriously, heads up! Beginning Friday, January 20, and extending through Monday, January 30, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is scheduled to begin distributing oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits in Alabama via low-flying airplanes and helicopters to vaccinate raccoons against the rabies virus. These baits are about the size of a matchbox and are coated with fishmeal flavoring giving them a strong fish smell attractive to raccoons.
The USDA has notified the City of Gulf Shores that we are being included in this statewide distribution plan. From January 20 to January 23, personnel will distribute approximately 2,880 ORV baits by vehicles in Gulf Shores and surrounding communities within the bait zone (click here to view bait zone: https://www.gulfshoresal.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11922/2023-ORV-Programs-in-Coastal-Alabama). The ORV baits used for hand-baiting urban/suburban areas are square blocks made of fishmeal and fish oil. The vaccine is contained inside of a plastic packet in the hollow center of the block.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲?
If you find ORV baits, leave them alone unless they are where children or pets play. To move ORV baits safely, you should:
➡ Wear gloves or use a paper towel or plastic bag when picking up the baits.
➡ Toss intact baits into a wooded area or other raccoon habitat.
➡ Bag and dispose of any damaged baits in the trash.
➡ Take precautions by practicing proper hygiene – wash with soap and water any skin or wounds that may have come into contact with ORV baits, especially if the bait was damaged.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗶𝘁?
➡ Don’t panic! A few baits are not harmful, though eating a large number may cause an upset stomach.
➡ Do not risk getting bitten or being exposed to the vaccine by taking a bait away from your pet.
➡ Check the area for more baits and relocate any remaining baits to a wooded area.
➡ If your pet eats a bait, avoid your pet’s saliva for 24 hours, and wash skin or wounds that may have been licked.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀?
If you have questions or concerns about an ORV bait you have found, please call one of the following:
➡ Rabies Information line at 1-866-4-USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297)
➡ Alabama Department of Public Health at: 1-800-ALA-1818 (1-800-151-1818)
For more information, view the official notification from the USDA regarding ORV bait distribution by clicking here: https://www.gulfshoresal.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11921/2023-Alabama-Cooperator-Notification-Letter--Oral-Rabies-Information.
