The coastal region of Baldwin County has an abundant population of racoons, which can spread rabies to other animals and humans in the area. Beginning on Monday, January 22, a new initiative from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will commence in Alabama, including Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley and other south Baldwin County communities, involving the aerial distribution of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits. This program, deploying low-flying airplanes and helicopters, aims to immunize raccoons against rabies. The baits, comparable in size to a matchbox, are infused with a fish meal coating, emitting a particularly appealing potent fish aroma to raccoons.

From January 22 to January 31, personnel will distribute approximately 2,160 ORV baits by vehicles in Gulf Shores and surrounding communities within the bait zone (View the bait zone here).

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)

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄:

• Official notification from the USDA regarding ORV bait distribution.
• Rabies & Oral Rabies Vaccination FAQ.
• Eastern United States Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Fact Sheet (pdf).