Rabies vaccine drop

If you see brown bags falling from the sky, don't touch them! These are rabies vaccines for coyotes and brown foxes being dropped by specially equipped airplanes

To help prevent the spread of rabies to domesticated animals and people, the Texas Department of State Health Services will be doing its annual airdop of rabies vaccine for coyotes and gray foxes Jan. 12. Almost 3 million baits will be dropped over parts of 41 Texas counties, including Ector County.

The specialized baits for coyotes are made of fishmeal and the baits for foxes are a mixture of dog food and molasses. Encased in each of the baits is an oral rabies vaccine.

DSHS veterinarian and director of the department's Oral Rabies Vaccination Program said humans should not handle the bait because wildlife will be less likely to eat them.

Questions and concerns should be directed to the DSHS at 1-877-722-6725.