Government shutdown will delay the drop
If you see a small packet in the woods, don’t mess with it.
It’s probably an oral rabies vaccine dropped for wild animals.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a plan to airdrop rabies vaccines for wild animals.
This activity will help keep the disease under control among wild animal populations.
The baits look like small square or rectangular bars. They are coated in fishmeal. Each one has a toll-free number on it that people can call for assistance and information.
They are designed to be appealing to raccoons and other rabies carriers.
The USDA plans to drop these baits by airplane from Oct. 21 to Oct. 28 over a large area including Gilmer County.
The North Georgia Health District advises residents to avoid touching the bait if they find it.
If bait is close to a residence, you can pick it up with gloves or a paper towel and move it deeper into the woods. After that, wash your hands.
If pets eat the bait, it isn’t harmful, but eating several could upset their stomachs. Don’t try to take away a bait packet from a pet.
If you come into contact with the liquid vaccine within the bait, you should wash your hands and contact the Gilmer County Health Department (GCHD).
Their phone number is 706-635-4363.
USDA’s state director for Georgia, Odin Stephens, said the bait drop will be delayed if the federal government is still shutdown, but will occur when the government resumes operation.