Every fall, US wildlife agencies air-drop rabies vaccine baits for wild raccoons. How many are dropped each year?
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9 million
Wildlife agencies air-drop about 9 million fishmeal-coated vaccine baits, each the size of a matchbox. More than 8 million of them fall across 13 eastern states, forming a barrier that stops raccoon rabies from spreading west. USDA models estimate that without it, the disease would reach central Wisconsin and the Texas-Louisiana border within 20 years, costing more than $1.2 billion.
Fewer than 10 Americans die of rabies each year. The US air-drops 9 million vaccine packets annually for raccoons to eat.
Source: USDA APHIS Wildlife Services (fact sheet + 2026 ORV releases); CDC; WHO · checked Aug 2025