County Health Department to Bait Raccoons for Rabies Vaccine

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health wants to vaccinate wild raccoons against rabies, a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals.

But they aren't asking for raccoons to make veterinary appointments.

Instead, they are baiting wooded areas with an oral vaccination that will be placed as bait throughout the county. The project begins September 7 and will run through the end of the month, weather permitting.

According to the Department of Health, the baits:

• Contain liquid rabies vaccine.
• Will be placed in neighborhoods by teams of trained Department of Health staff. Teams will wear orange or green Department of Health T-shirts and travel in marked County vehicles.
• Will be dropped from a low-flying County Police helicopter in less-populated areas.
• Come in two styles. One looks like a ketchup packet with a light brown waxy coating. The other looks like a small brown brick, is approximately 0.75 inch thick by 1.25 inches square, and has a plastic packet inside. In both styles the vaccine is contained within the packet.
• Are marked with a 1-800 phone number. Anyone who comes in contact with the bait or has a pet that finds the bait is asked to call that number or 410-222-7168.

The oral rabies vaccine immunizes raccoons when the animal bites the packet that contains the vaccine. The vaccine can not cause rabies and is not harmful to the raccoons or other animals.

Although the bait/vaccine is not harmful to humans, it should not be handled by children, pregnant women, or those with a compromised immune system or a chronic skin condition.

The Department of Health recommends that pet owners keep their pets confined or on a leash during the baiting and for two weeks thereafter. If your pet finds a bait, care should be taken in removing the bait from the pet’s mouth.

Homeowners who see raccoons on their property may request to have the property baited by going online or by calling the Department of Health at 410-222-7168 before August 26.

The ORV Project receives support from the Anne Arundel County Police Department and Wildlife Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.