ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Anne Arundel County health officials are taking to the air to vaccinate raccoons for rabies.

Health officials say they are distributing about 70,000 bait packs containing the rabies vaccine by helicopter this year.

Health officials say immunizing raccoons helps reduce human and pet exposure to rabies.

County officials say the program began in 1998 on the Annapolis peninsula, which had one of the highest concentrations of rabid animals in the state. Due to the program’s success, it was extended in 2001 to the Broadneck peninsula, and to the entire county in 2003.

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