Two rabies epizootics (large disease outbreaks in animals) involving coyotes and gray foxes began in 1988. The outbreaks involved the Texas fox (TF) rabies virus variant in gray fox populations in west/west-central Texas and the domestic dog-coyote (DDC) rabies virus variant in coyote populations in south Texas.  These epizootics presented a major health threat to people and domestic animals, as they spread rapidly toward more densely populated areas.  In 1994, Texas Governor Ann Richards declared the two rabies epizootics to be a state health emergency.  The Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Branch (ZCB) initiated the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (ORVP) in 1995. The program has put forth considerable resources and efforts to contain the spread of these epizootics and to eliminate both of these rabies virus variants from Texas.  Annual ORVP campaigns since 1995 have eliminated both the DDC and TF rabies variants from Texas.  The current goal of the ORVP is to prevent the re-introduction into Texas of the DDC rabies variant from Mexico and a new variant, the Arizona fox variant (AF), from Mexico and New Mexico.  Through the ORVP project, Texas is at the national forefront of rabies control in terrestrial wildlife reservoirs.

Once a year, aircraft drop an oral vaccine bait coated in fish oil and fishmeal crumbles as an attractant, on the targeted areas. The goal is to maintain a zone of vaccinated wildlife along the US-Mexico and Texas-New Mexico borders to prevent the reintroduction of rabies variants of concern. Extensive research in a wide variety of species has shown the vaccine to be very safe. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Branch concluded the 2025 ORVP’s aerial distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits on January 23rd.  This enhanced campaign distributed 1,051,500 individual vaccine baits along the entire Texas-Mexico border and along parts of the Texas-New Mexico border over approximately two weeks.  The project is expanding to new areas of West-Texas to prevent incursion of the AF rabies variant now present in Mexico and southern New Mexico. Target wildlife species include coyotes and gray foxes.  Anyone finding one of the vaccine baits is encouraged to leave it alone, as wildlife can smell the human scent that remains after handling. The vaccine will not hurt pets or livestock if they consume one of the vaccine baits however, it cannot be used in domestic animals as a substitute for the rabies vaccine administered by a veterinarian.  You should wash your hands with soap and water if you have skin contact with the liquid portion (vaccine) of the bait. If you have an immunocompromising health condition, please inform your family physician immediately about your contact with this live vaccine.  Contact with a vaccine bait should also be reported to the Zoonosis Control Branch by calling 1-877-722-6725 or 512-776-7676.

Mission Updates

View the 2025 Distribution Zone

View the Daily Report for activities, distribution amounts, and distance flown daily

View participant photos from the January 2025 Campaign

View the ORVP brochure

Learn more about Rabies

Texas Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Photo Archives