LaFayette, GA – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services will begin distributing oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits in Walker County next week. The bait drops are part of a nationwide effort to prevent the spread of racoon rabies in the eastern United States.
ORV bait drops typically occur in the fall, but due to damage and recovery efforts caused by Hurricane Helene in neighboring states, the bait drops were postponed until now. USDA plans to conduct its usual baiting in October, as well.
Beginning April 7, 2025, more than 500,000 baits containing RABORAL V-RG ORV will be distributed across more than 7,000 square kilometers in northwest Georgia targeting raccoons and other wildlife. In Walker County, roughly 75 baits per kilometer will be dropped by low-flying airplane and helicopters.
Airplane operations are scheduled to run from April 7-12, while helicoptor drops will occur between April 12-15. Walker County sits right in the middle of the bait zone, which means after the USDA makes bait drops by helicopter to the northern end and spread baits across the southern end using a fixed wing plane.
While not harmful for pets, officials say you should leave these baits alone unless found in areas where children play. When that occurs, they recommend putting on gloves or using a towel to handle the bait and toss it into brushy or wooded areas where a wild animal is more likely to find it.
Additional information is available from the USDA website.