You may spot a yellow and black twin otter flying over the forests of Charlotte County this week as the rabies vaccine aerial drop continues in that region.
Elaine Bell of the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries tells us that five of the eight flights have already been completed as of Sunday evening and the bait-drop by hand will be starting soon. Bell says that they will do the rest of the aerial drops as soon as the weather allows.
The vaccine packages are made of mix of fat, food colouring, some vegatable dye, marshmallow flavour, and a liquid vaccine. She says that the baits are completely safe for humans and domesticated animals however they are meant for wildlife so if your dog, for example, happens to find one and eat it, it will not be immunized against rabies.
If you come across one of the vaccine packages you’re asked to pick it up with a hankerchief or ziplock bag and toss it into a more densely wooded area – she says the only reason they ask that you do not touch them is that they don’t want your scent getting on the bait.
Bell says since May of 2014 they’ve had 21 confirmed cases of rabies among raccoons and skunks in the Charlotte County area.
