The province has begun to place rabies vaccines in urban areas frequented by skunks and raccoons and will be dropping them from aircraft in rural areas.
The urban baiting will last into September in Brant, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Norfolk, Ohsweken, Oxford, Waterloo and Wellington. Baiting will also occur in the city of Cornwall and Cornwall Island in mid-August.
.Baits are not distributed near schools, playgrounds, or where children are likely to be present.
The government said “baiting is an important part of our rabies control plan – one of the most successful in North America.”
Baiting by aircraft will start August 7 in St. Lawrence in Frontenac and Leeds & Grenville counties, and August 15 in Brant, Brantford, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Norfolk, Ohsweken, Oxford, Waterloo and Wellington. All baiting dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions.
Since 2015, the ministry has distributed more than 7.5 million vaccine baits and tested more than 25,000 wildlife samples. This action has contained the original outbreak to within 65 kilometres of the original case and the number of positive cases has dropped by 95 per cent since 2016.
The khaki-green coloured bait is made of wax-fat and smells like marshmallow to attract animals. A label with a toll-free telephone number (1-888-574-6656) and the message “Do not eat” are printed on the bait, and a plastic package containing the liquid rabies vaccine is embedded in the centre. If found, the bait should not be touched, but left for raccoons, skunks and foxes to consume.
