Racoon Rabies
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is trying to stop rabies from advancing northward from New York State into Canada. A vaccination program for raccoons has been carried out for several years in the St. Lawrence National Park (Thousand Islands).
500,000 rabies vaccine baits are being dropped by air in a wide section of
Eastern Ontario from north of Belleville to Ottawa and the Rideau Valley starting
in 2000. The bait is a 3.5 X 1cm green square made of fat with the vaccine in
it. People are asked not to touch the bait if they see it on the ground.
So far, 37 cases of raccoon rabies have been identified in Eastern Ontario, mainly
between Brockville and Merrickville.
- Ontario Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs: Rabies in Ontario
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: 800-667-1940