Helicopters To Distribute Rabies Vaccine Baits On Cape Cod

BARNSTABLE, MA — Oral rabies vaccine baits for raccoons and other wildlife will be distributed throughout Cape Cod and mainland Barnstable County County next week, according to officials with the Cape Cod and Southeast Massachusetts Rabies Task Force.

On the map below, areas shaded in orange will see the baits distributed by helicopters with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), beginning Monday. The exact finish date is weather dependent.

Yellow areas will have the baits distributed with vehicles and on foot, beginning Sept. 17. Bait stations in selected areas will be filled this coming Monday as well. The ground-based distribution is expected to last one to two weeks.

During this time frame, expect to see two low-flying helicopters, as well as several town, county, and federal vehicles, distributing baits.

Officials ask that you keep your dogs leashed. While the baits are generally safe for your pets, the fish meal coating may cause your pet to experience an upset stomach. Additionally, every bait that a dog consumes is a lost dose that could have gone to an unvaccinated raccoon.

Once the initial baiting is complete, more will be distributed to the upper Cape to prevent the spread of rabies.

The expanded baiting is a response to the first case of terrestrial rabies on the Cape in over eight years. In May, a raccoon from Hyannis tested positive for the virus.