18th Year Of Raccoon Baiting Program Begins

Raccoon Rabies Baits
Photo credit Allegheny County Health Department

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) — The raccoon rabies vaccination baiting program returns to the Pittsburgh area Monday for its 18th year.

Crews will be placing 300,000 baits containing rabies vaccines throughout Allegheny, Beaver and Washington Counties through Aug. 21.

For the first time this year, baits will also be distributed via helicopter during the final days of the program. Residents in western Allegheny County will see those helicopters dropping small baits between Aug. 18 and 21.

The 18th annual raccoon rabies baiting program is underway and will run through 8/21. During this time more than 300,000 baits will be distributed in all 130 municipalities across the county. See below for bait examples & read more: https://t.co/8LRDzVEpxR pic.twitter.com/U4QEkmHjoN

— Allegheny County (@Allegheny_Co) August 5, 2019  

Residents are encouraged to keep trash and food scraps secure so raccoons are more likely to eat the baits.

The baits are not harmful to pets, but they should be kept on-leash or in private property during baiting and the following weeks so raccoons eat them. Pet owners should also make sure animals are up-to-date on vaccines. 

Humans should not touch the baits.

Allegheny County health officials say the number of rabid raccoons has declined locally in recent years, but remind residents to stay away and report any wild animal acting strangely. 

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