USDA and Cornell to Vaccinate Raccoons in Parts of Brooklyn and Queens to Help Prevent Spread of Rabies
During September, wildlife biologists with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Cornell University will distribute oral rabies vaccine (ORV) along the southern border of Brooklyn and Queens to prevent the spread of rabies virus among raccoons. Cornell received State funding to pursue this program in New York City, and it is an expansion of a program being conducted in Long Island and parts of upstate New York. In New York City and New York State, animal rabies occurs primarily in raccoons, bats and skunks.
The raccoons will be vaccinated using baits containing ORV which will be made available using fixed bait stations placed in several wooded areas. Raccoons are attracted by the brown, fish-scented bait, which conceals a small packet of pink colored liquid vaccine about one square inch in size. When raccoons chew the bait, they become immunized and cannot be infected with rabies.
The bait itself will not harm people, but in rare instances, exposure to
the liquid can cause a rash. In the unlikely event someone comes in contact
with the liquid, wash his or her hands with warm, soapy water, talk to
their doctor, and notify the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
The bait is not harmful to pets and cannot cause rabies, but it can cause
vomiting if several baits are consumed. If pets find it, do not try to
take it away from them in order to avoid being bitten and exposed to the vaccine.
For more information, including photos of the bait, please view the
Rabies Vaccine Packet flyer.
To help prevent the spread of rabies, New Yorkers are reminded to take the following steps:
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Get your cat or dog vaccinated for rabies. It’s the law.
- Check with your vet to see if your pet is up-to-date with vaccinations. Pets need a rabies booster shot every one to four years.
- Call 311 or visit nyc.gov and search for “rabies” for information on rabies.
- Always keep cats, even vaccinated cats, indoors and supervise your dog when it is outdoors. Cats and dogs that roam could come into contact with a rabid animal, get infected, and then expose you.
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Avoid wild, stray or unfamiliar animals. Keep children and pets away from
them too.
- Avoid any wild, stray, sick, or injured animal, no matter how helpless it looks. Even stray cats can be dangerous.
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Raccoons, skunks, and bats are more likely than other animals to have rabies.
Be careful around them—especially if they appear sick or behave
strangely. For example:
- Normally tame animals, like cats, acting too aggressive or wild animals acting too friendly.
- Difficulty walking around.
- Night animals like raccoons walking around during the day.
- Call 311 and ask for Animal Care and Control to find out what to do
- Keep garbage in tight containers to avoid attracting animals.
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If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound, consult a doctor, and call
311 or Poison Control to report the bite.
- First, wash the wound with soap and water IMMEDIATELY.
- Talk to a doctor right away to see if you need a tetanus shot or a rabies evaluation. If you don’t have a regular doctor, go to a hospital emergency room.
- Call 311 to report the bite. After business hours, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
For more information on rabies please visit the NYC DOHMH web page.
For more information on Oral Rabies Vaccine, please visit the following sites: