RINGGOLD _  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will distribute oral rabies vaccine (ORV) by aircraft across Catoosa County and surrounding northwest Georgia areas from April 7-15. This operation is part of a nationwide effort by USDA to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies in the eastern United States.

Helicopter and fixed wing aircraft will distribute more than a half million baits containing RABORAL V-RG across nearly 3,000 square miles in northwest Georgia. The baits are packets of vaccine coated with fish crumbles. USDA says the baits are marked with a toll-free number for people seeking information to call and are not harmful to pets.

USDA asks that anyone who finds these baits to leave them alone for wildlife to find. However, if bait is found intact and out in the open it can be tossed deeper into woods or brush. People should wear gloves or use a towel if needed to handle ORV bait and wash their hands afterward.

In the past USDA has completed its annual ORV bait drop in Georgia during October. However, last year’s bait drop was postponed due to the extensive damage and recovery efforts in neighboring states due to Hurricane Helene. This year USDA will drop ORV bait in April and resume its usual baiting in October. Helicopter ORV bait drop operations are scheduled for April 12-15 with fixed wing airplane drops from April 7-12.