The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is continuing its efforts to protect the public from the threat of raccoon rabies. The protection zones that have built over the last several years will be reinforced to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies. Until November 3, the Rabies Research Unit at MNR will immunize raccoons and skunks along the St. Lawrence River from Kingston to Cardinal and in Niagara Region in the Welland Canal, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Niagara River corridor.
Raccoons and skunks will be trapped, vaccinated and then released. The goal is to immunize 65per cent of the raccoons and skunks in the identified zones. The immunization of a large percentage of the animals will prevent the spread of rabies.
The Rabies Research Unit will ask landowner permission to trap and vaccinate animals on private property. Any pets caught in traps will be released.
Raccoon rabies was confirmed last July near Brockville. Through the development of protection zones, MNR has been able to confine raccoon rabies to two areas: North Augusta, near Brockville and Wolfe Island near Kingston. The dropping of 81,000 baits containing oral vaccine has also helped with the immunization of raccoons and skunks.
To date 30 cases of raccoon rabies have been found in the two identified areas. MNR is an international leader in innovative rabies control and research. Identifying effective protective zones and building a strategy in these areas to deals with confirmed cases has helped to ensure public safety and a healthy wildlife population.
From the Archives:
OMAFRA Update 2, July 2000
