Health Department's Raccoon Rabies Vaccination Program Begins 8/15
Published on August 15, 2025
PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services will begin the county’s annual Raccoon Rabies Vaccination Program on Friday, August 15, 2025.
Over the course of the five-week project, crews will distribute more than 250,000 baits in all 130 Allegheny County municipalities. Bait will be spread by hand from August 18th to August 22nd; aircraft, including helicopters and fixed-wing airplanes, will distribute bait throughout the duration of the project ending on September 20th.
“Allegheny County is vital to managing and preventing the spread of raccoon rabies in the United States,” explained Jamie Sokol, raccoon rabies vaccination program coordinator. “Our efforts in partnership with the USDA, work to stop the disease from spreading further west into the interior parts of the country.”
As part of the program, low-flying, slow-moving aircraft pass over the same area multiple times distributing vaccination baits. Some residents who are unaware of the program may find this unusual or alarming, so the Health Department asks for help in getting the word out about the initiative.
The baits consist of a small blister packet that contains a pink liquid vaccine inside. The vaccine is coated in either fishmeal or a waxy, vanilla scented coating that attracts raccoons. Most of the baits will be consumed within five days of distribution.
Residents should avoid contact with the bait. However, if a resident comes in contact with the bait or the liquid vaccine inside, they should wash their hands and any other exposed area of skin with soap and water. In the unlikely event a rash develops, residents should contact their health care provider, immediately.
The baits are not harmful to pets. Residents are asked to keep their pets inside, or on leash, so they do not eat the baits before the raccoons. To ensure raccoons are hungry, the ACHD also asks residents to bring food sources indoors and check that all garbage container lids are secure.
Rabies is a virus transmitted by animal bites or scratches. Exposures due to a bite or scratch are almost always fatal when left untreated. Any resident bitten, scratched or exposed to saliva from an animal should immediately cleanse the contact area with soap and water and seek emergency medical treatment.
“Of the reported rabies cases in animals throughout the county most are from wild animals. Any measure we can take to reduce the amount of rabies in our raccoon population is beneficial to public health in Allegheny County,” said Dr. Iulia Vann, ACHD Director. “Not only does this program reduce potential human exposure to the rabies virus it also reduces exposure risk to family pets, and reduces medical costs associated with the disease.”
The Raccoon Rabies Vaccination Program has aimed to reduce the number of confirmed rabies cases in Allegheny County for 24 years.
For more information about the Raccoon Rabies Vaccination Program, visit: alleghenycounty.us/raccoon.
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