Those packets being dropped on the Cape from helicopters? They're rabies vaccines for raccoons.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is conducting widespread oral rabies vaccination efforts, with distributions occurring throughout August and September. Aerial and ground operations have initiated across various regions, including Aroostook County, Erie County, and across the Cape, to address raccoon-variant rabies. New Hampshire Public Radio notes the deployment of 1.1 million vaccine baits across New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.

Simultaneously, the Monongalia County Health Department is facilitating the distribution of 1,400 vaccine baits in Morgantown. Coverage indicates that residents may observe low-flying helicopters dropping these packets in designated areas. These initiatives are part of a coordinated program focused on limiting the spread of the virus.

While distribution schedules are active through September, documentation does not yet specify the exact completion dates for all individual municipal operations or the specific success metrics of the current cycle.