North Wake News

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to address rabies prevention. This week marks the beginning of the annual distribution of oral rabies vaccines for raccoons in Western North Carolina. Typically held each fall, the initiative was postponed in 2024 due to Hurricane Helene.

"Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease, and this program plays a critical role in protecting both public health and animal populations across North Carolina," said Carl Williams, DVM, State Public Health Veterinarian. "By vaccinating wildlife like raccoons, we create a barrier that helps stop the spread of the virus — keeping people, pets and communities safer."

Starting April 2, 2025, counties including Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey will see aerial distribution of vaccine baits. Hand baiting will occur in Buncombe County from April 3 to April 9, contingent on weather conditions.

The vaccine baits incorporate a sachet containing the oral rabies vaccine with a fishmeal coating to attract raccoons, measuring approximately the size of a matchbox. Raccoons piercing these baits encounter the vaccine, inducing an immune response to create antibodies against rabies.

Those coming into contact with the liquid vaccine should wash the area with soap and water and follow directions by calling the phone number on the bait. Though harmless to domestic animals, the vaccine targets raccoons and coyotes. North Carolina mandates rabies vaccination for pets by four months of age, continuing regularly per state law.

Rabies is more prevalent in wild animals in North Carolina, with potential exposure when domestic animals or people come into contact with infected wildlife. In case of bites from wild animals, medical attention for a rabies assessment is advised. Post-exposure treatment provides prevention from infection, as symptoms signify near-certain fatality.

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission asks the public to report sick or dead wildlife to the NC Wildlife Helpline at 1-866-318-2401 during business hours or via email at HWI@ncwildlife.org.

Scheduled completion of baiting is set for the end of April 2025. Since its inception in the 1990s, the USDA’s Oral Rabies Vaccination program has effectively kept the raccoon rabies epizootic from spreading westward of the Appalachian Mountains, aspiring to move the vaccine barriers eastward to eradicate raccoon rabies.

For detailed information, the National Rabies Management Program webpage is available, and more data on rabies can be found on the NCDHHS Division of Public Health website.