The U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing to distribute nearly 650,000 oral rabies vaccines across portions of north Georgia next month as part of an effort to slow the spread of rabies among wildlife.
According to officials, approximately 648,000 oral rabies vaccine baits will be distributed across designated areas during October.
The vaccines will be dropped from airplanes and helicopters. Each vaccine pouch is coated with a fishmeal attractant designed to encourage wildlife, particularly raccoons and other animals that can carry rabies, to consume the bait.
The vaccination effort is intended to help prevent rabies from spreading through wildlife populations and reduce the risk of the disease reaching additional areas.
Residents who find one of the vaccine baits are encouraged to leave it where it is. The vaccines are intended for wildlife, and people and pets should avoid handling or disturbing them.
Residents in north Georgia may notice aircraft conducting the distribution or find the vaccine packets on the ground during and following the October operation.