[va-bird] Re: [Bristol-Birds] Re: Oral rabies aerial distribution in southwestern VA - first two weeks in August

From: Carol Hardy <carolhardy@xxxxxxxxx>
To: comeback@xxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 11:18:21 -0400

Hey there

I am with the US Forest Service, not USDA APHIS-Wildlife Services, which is
the agency that is working on this effort...I wish I could help you with
the questions you have! We got a letter stating the information that I then
sent out to my biologists, and I thought birders who would be out in the
woods birding during this time would want to be aware of it as well. Here
is a phone number of the assistant state director for APHIS here in
Virginia that sent us the letter we received (804) 739-7739. Her name is
Jennifer Cromwell. Hopefully, she can answer the questions you have.

Sincerely,

Carol
***********************************************
Carol Hardy, Ph.D.
Forest Wildlife Biologist
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
5162 Valleypointe Pkwy
Roanoke, VA 24019
************************************************

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|         |           James Brooks           |
|         |           <comeback@xxxxxxxx>    |
|         |           Sent by:               |
|         |           bristol-birds-bounce@fr|
|         |           eelists.org            |
|         |                                  |
|         |                                  |
|         |           07/27/2004 07:15 PM    |
|         |           Please respond to      |
|         |           comeback               |
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                                                 |
  |        To:      carolhardy@xxxxxxxxx, bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx                                     |
  |        cc:
                                                 |
  |        Subject: [Bristol-Birds] Re: Oral rabies aerial distribution in
southwestern VA - first two weeks in August           |

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Carol -
When is the USDA going to make the Raboral VR-G baits available to
property owners who are most at risk to raccoon rabies because of
families of raccoons on their properties?
The aerial inoculation program didn't work to halt the spread of raccoon
rabies into Johnson and Carter Counties of Tennessee, which is why you
now have the battle in Virginia.
Raboral VR-G virtually wiped out wildlife rabies in Europe where it was
developed, and I seriously doubt they did it with an aerial dropping
program. Solving problems by bombing populations seems to be a uniquely
American aberration.
It seems USDA is talking out of both sides of its mouth: it poses no
risk for pets, but you should keep pets away from it. That's like George
W. Bush saying we are at war with terrorism, but we should all go about
our daily business.
If there is no risk, why is this remedy kept from the people who live in
the country who are at greatest risk of exposure to rabid raccoons? We
inoculate our pets against rabies so they will act as a barrier between
wild carriers and ourselves. Why can we not have access to this
effective innoculant so we can treat those wild animals that come up
onto our porches?
If, in fact, it is potentially harmful to pets, I would be happy to put
the baits 20 feet up in a tree. My cats do not climb trees large enough
to support a ladder, given a choice.
I have raised this question several times in my column, "The Wild Life"
in the Johnson City Press, and never gotten an answer from USDA.
Although Northeast Tennessee is apparently not within your operation
zone, since you posted this on a Tennessee bird list, I would like the
courtesy of a reply.

James Brooks

Carol Hardy wrote:

Fellow birders:

In case you are out and about birding in southwestern VA the next few
weeks, you should be aware of the following:

Beginning August 9, 2004, USDA Wildlife Services Program (WSP) will
distribute approximately 350,000 ice-cube sized oral rabies vaccine baits
aerially across a 2,000 square-mile zone in southwestern VA including

parts

of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Scott, Russell, Washington, Wise, and

Tazewell

counties. This includes parts of the Jefferson National Forest. The

vaccine

will be distributed by low-flying aircraft for about 2 weeks and will

avoid

dropping baits on roadways, structures, and large bodies of water. In late
August, USDA WSP personnel will distribute approximately 11,000 baits by
handbaiting or from vehicles in suburban and developed areas within the
bait zone. The oral rabies vaccine baits are square, ice-cube sized,

blocks

made of fishmeal and fish oil. The vaccine is contained inside of a

plastic

packet (red liquid) in the hollow center of the block. Each bait block is
imprinted with a toll-free number (1-877-722-6725) to call for assistance
or information if found. This is an effort by USDA WSP to abate in part

emergency human health and safety rabies issue affecting the eastern

United

States. Implementation of this program in VA is a cooperative effort
between USDA WSP, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
Virginia Department of Health, and other state agencies. An Environmental
Assessment was completed by USDA WSP at the Regional level (several states
are involved in this effort).

USDA WSP states that the vaccine is not harmful to wild animals or pets

and

the exposure risk to humans is very slight. However, they are recommending
the following in areas that will be baited:

* Encourage children to leave the baits alone
* Keep dogs and cats inside or on leashes at least a week after your area
is baited
* If you have contact with the liquid vaccine inside the bait (a red
fluid), thoroughly wash the exposed skin with soap and water and call your
local health department
* The vaccine cannot be used to vaccinate a pet against rabies

***********************************************
Carol Hardy, Ph.D.
Forest Wildlife Biologist
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
5162 Valleypointe Pkwy
Roanoke, VA 24019
************************************************

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*************************************************
       BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST
Bristol Birds Net Photo Gallery located at:
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jwcoffeyy/album?.dir=/efd5

This is a regional birding list sponsored by the
Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications
between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia
and Northeast Tennessee.
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To post to this mailing list, simply send an email
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[va-bird] Re: [Bristol-Birds] Re: Oral rabies aerial distribution in southwestern VA - first two weeks in August

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