The Alabama Department of Public Health says the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services program will distribute the vaccines, designed to reduce raccoon rabies and the public health risks associated with rabies exposure.
The 14 counties include three in our area: Autauga, Chilton and Coosa. Other counties are Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, St. Clair, Shelby and Talladega. The entire area is more than 5,000 square miles.
The vaccine is in a coated baited packet that will be dropped by low-flying airplanes and helicopters. Aircraft are often used to drop baits in more heavily wooded areas that are more difficult to access…