Oral Rabies Vaccination Program in the Eastern United States

Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the central nervous system in mammals. 

It is almost always transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Wildlife 

account for more than 90 percent of all reported rabies cases each year in the 

United States. Raccoons, bats, and skunks are responsible for most of those 

cases, but foxes and coyotes can also spread the disease.  

Vaccinating Wildlife for Rabies

 Effective vaccines are available to prevent rabies in wildlife. Every year, we 

distribute more than 8 million oral rabies vaccine baits in a vaccination zone 

that includes 16 Eastern States from Maine to Alabama. This work prevents the 

westward and northward spread of the virus variant that causes raccoon rabies. 

We work with States to monitor uninfected areas near the vaccination zone. 

If we find a positive case, we act quickly to contain it. This may include 

enhanced rabies surveillance, live-trapping and hand-vaccination of raccoons 

and skunks, or distributing oral rabies vaccine baits where cases originated.

 Oral Rabies Vaccine

 There are two types of oral rabies vaccine for wildlife used in the United 

States: RABORAL V-RG® and ONRAB. The V-RG vaccine comes in two bait 

forms: a coated sachet that can be distributed by air and a heavier block 

bait that can be distributed by hand in urban areas. Both baits are covered 

in fishmeal to attract wildlife. The ONRAB vaccine is contained in a polyvinyl 

chloride (PVC) blister pack and coated with a sweet (sugar/marshmallow) 

flavor attractive to wildlife. 

When a raccoon bites into a bait, the packet ruptures, allowing the vaccine to 

coat the animal’s mouth and throat. Animals that receive an adequate dose of 

the vaccine develops antibodies against rabies. As the number of vaccinated 

animals in a population increases, disease transmission decreases, creating 

an “immunity barrier” to stop the spread of rabies. 

 Oral rabies vaccines are distributed mostly by air,  

but some residential or other populated areas may  

be baited by hand. In rural areas, we use fixed wing 

aircraft to disperse large numbers of baits. In urban  

and suburban areas, we use helicopters, hand baiting, 

and bait stations to place baits where raccoons are  

most likely to find them and reduce the chance that 

people or domestic animals will encounter them. 

Monitoring Vaccination

 After baits are distributed, we work with our  

cooperators to monitor vaccination levels. We set  

live traps in baited areas and check them daily.  

These traps are labeled in the event area residents 

discover a trapped animal and wish to contact  

Wildlife Services. We temporarily anesthetize captured 

raccoons to collect blood samples. We may also  

remove a small, single-rooted tooth to age animals.  

We give each raccoon an ear tag with a unique  

number so that we can identify it if it’s captured or  

found later. Once the anesthesia wears off, we  

release the raccoons back into the wild where they  

were captured. 

We send all blood samples to cooperating laboratories 

where they are tested for rabies antibodies. An animal is 

considered vaccinated when a certain level of antibodies 

is detected in its blood. On average, vaccination protects 

against the virus for more than a year.

 If You Find a Bait

 If you find a bait, please leave it alone. Most baits are 

eaten within 4 days, and almost all baits are gone in  

1 week. Remaining baits will dissolve in the environment, 

exposing the vaccine packet. Sunlight and air inactivate 

the vaccine.

 If you see a bait on your lawn, driveway, or other area 

where a child or pet might find it, move it to a wooded 

area or other location with thicker cover. Wear gloves or 

use a plastic bag or paper towel to protect your hands.  

An intact bait will not harm you, but it’s difficult to know 

if the bait may be leaking vaccine while on the ground. 

If you come into contact with the liquid vaccine within 

the bait, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap 

and water and call the number listed on the bait or your 

county health department for further instructions.

 If your pet finds a bait, don’t try to remove it from their 

mouth—you may get bitten. The vaccine can’t cause 

rabies and is safe if eaten by domestic dogs and cats. 

That said, you should not use a bait to vaccinate your  

dog or cat. Your pet should be vaccinated by a 

veterinarian in accordance with State and local laws.

 Learn More

 For more information on the National Rabies Management 

Program, go to www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/rabies 

or call 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297)

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