The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and USDA will distribute oral rabies vaccines to wild raccoons. Officials plan aerial drops starting October 16 across Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties. Workers will hand-distribute additional baits in Asheville from October 14-16. Baits contain vaccines inside fishmeal-coated sachets or hard polymer blocks, about the size of a matchbox. Raccoons bite the bait, puncturing the vaccine packet and absorbing it orally, which prevents rabies infection.
Safety Measures for Residents and Pets
Public Health Veterinarian Emily Herring urged pet owners to keep animals vaccinated and avoid wild wildlife. Officials assured the intact baits cannot harm humans, pets, or other wildlife. Residents should leave bait where they find it unless it sits in a pet-accessible area; in that case, move it to dense cover. People should wear gloves when handling baits and instruct children to leave them alone. Consuming multiple baits may upset pets’ stomachs, and people should never try to remove a vaccine packet from an animal’s mouth. If contact occurs with the liquid vaccine, wash hands thoroughly and call the local health department or the number on the bait (1-877-722-6725).
Rabies Risk and Monitoring
Rabies remains almost always fatal once symptoms appear. In 2024, North Carolina tested over 4,000 animals, with about 6% positive, mostly raccoons. The state requires domestic dogs, cats, and ferrets to receive rabies vaccinations by four months of age and periodically thereafter. Wildlife Services will continue monitoring raccoon populations and rabies-positive areas after completing oral vaccine distribution, expected by late October, weather permitting. The program, active since the 1990s, aims to prevent raccoon rabies from spreading west of the Appalachian Mountains.
