Vermont’s rabies bait drop will start next week to prevent the spread of the disease among wildlife.
The fish-bait vaccine will be hand-placed in rural areas of eight Vermont counties.
An aerial bait drop will take place from planes sometime during the first week of September.
Federal officials are trying to stop the spread of raccoon rabies into Canada.
Officials say the baits are not harmful to children or pets if touched or eaten, but say the pellets should not be handled or disturbed. If one is found on a lawn or driveway, they say to remove it wearing a glove and to throw it away. Raccoon rabies was first confirmed in Vermont in 1994.