Raccoon Rabies Vaccination

To stop the spread of raccoon rabies into Northeast Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health has been working with other state and federal agencies over the last several years to distribute an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) throughout the region.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is cooperating with the Ohio Departments of Health, Agriculture, and Natural Resources in allowing distribution of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits within the park during the week of August 31, 2007.

What does the bait look like?
The oral rabies vaccine bait comes in two ways. The traditional bait is a brown square block made of fishmeal. The vaccine is inside a plastic packet inside the middle of the block. Another form is just the plastic packet containing the vaccine that is coated in fishmeal and oil. Fishmeal is known to be very attractive to raccoons. Both kinds of vaccines may be distributed in the park.

How will baits be distributed?
Most baits will be distributed in natural areas from a helicopter by personnel from Ohio Department of Natural Resources. A small number of additional baits will be distributed by park staff on NPS lands in areas of high raccoon abundance.

All attempts will be made to avoid dropping baits in residential yards or areas where they are likely to attract pets.

It is not possible to get rabies from the vaccine. The vaccine contains only a single gene of the rabies virus, not the entire virus. The bait and vaccine will not harm pets or livestock if they find and eat one. Baits will be distributed so that pet or child contact is not likely. However, if bait is found in the open or where contact by pets or children is possible, put on gloves and toss it into deeper cover.

All questions about the ORV baiting efforts should be directed to the Ohio Department of Health at 1-888-RABIES-1 or 1-888-722-4371.

For more information about the ORV Program please visit the Ohio Department of Health Web site at: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/idc/zoodis/rabies/rab1.aspx

Important reminders from the Ohio Department of Health:

• Be aware of what the bait looks like.
• Keep dogs and cats inside or on leashes for several days after your area was baited. Most baits will be gone in about 3 days.
•Tell your children about the raccoon vaccination program and tell them to leave any baits alone.
• Do not attempt to take a bait away from your pet! That is the same as taking food away from an animal. You may be bitten.
• Baits may be picked up while wearing gloves, or with a plastic bag or towel.
• Do not handle a partially eaten or damaged bait with bare hands.
• Damaged baits should be placed in a baggie and disposed of in normal trash. • If you touch the bait or the liquid vaccine (a red fluid inside the bait), thoroughly wash your hands or exposed skin with soap and water.
• Call the Ohio Department of Health, Rabies Information Line (1-888-RABIES-1 or 1-888-722-4371) to report any incidents or to answer questions.