Federal, state and local officials will renew their biannual battle against the rabies virus starting this week.

Marion and Rochester residents are being cautioned to be on the look out for vaccine-laden baits designed to keep the deadly disease at bay in the wildlife population.

Town officials, volunteers and United States Department of Agriculture officials working on behalf of the Cape Cod Rabies Task Force will continue the Oral Rabies Vaccine Program by distributing 72,000 vaccinations.

Some of those baits will be distributed from Sept. 17 to Sept. 21 in Marion and Rochester. New this year, officials will also distribute baits along railroad tracks starting at SEMASS in Rochester. Other baits will be placed in specially made, camouflaged bait stations.

The local efforts are part of a national program that is slowly working to eliminate rabies from the eastern seaboard, said USDA Wildlife Biologist Brian Bjorklund

The task force is charged with making sure Cape Cod stays free of rabies and diminish its reach on the South Coast. Bjorklund said the program is designed to reduce raccoon-variant rabies, which is easily spread to other wildlife, pets and people.

The vaccines are inside plastic packets, which are wrapped inside bait made up of fishmeal in 2-inch cubes. With its distinctive odor, Bjorklund said the bait attracts dogs and cats as well as raccoons. He encouraged dog owners to keep pets on leashes following the distribution of the bait. If eaten, the baits will not harm pets, but the animal may experience some stomach discomfort.

Bjorklund urged pet owners to contact him if they find a pet has taken a bait. He noted officials carefully track how many baits are distributed. The vaccines won’t harm pets of ingested, but they are considered a lost dose for wildlife.

In addition to the hand distribution, 48 stations on the mainland will be stocked with bait. Made of plastic piping, the stations are located in the woods of the mainland communities targeted.

If anyone finds a bait sample, Bjorklund said it should be picked up using gloves and tossed into the woods or disposed of properly. If you find a bait and have questions, call the Massachusetts Department of Health at 617-983-6800 or Bjorklund at 508-476-2956.