le Lundi 27 mars 2023
le Jeudi 9 juillet 2020 13:16 Autres - Others

Rabies vaccine baiting plan begins

If it’s small and green and smells like marshmallow, it may be the anti-rabies vaccine bait that the Ministry of Natural Resources is dropping by air over part of the rural area of Eastern Ontario this summer to reduce the risk of rabies developing in skunks, raccoons, and foxes. Be sure to keep children or pets who find the treated bait from eating it. — supplied photo
If it’s small and green and smells like marshmallow, it may be the anti-rabies vaccine bait that the Ministry of Natural Resources is dropping by air over part of the rural area of Eastern Ontario this summer to reduce the risk of rabies developing in skunks, raccoons, and foxes. Be sure to keep children or pets who find the treated bait from eating it.
supplied photo
The provincial government will do airdrops of special bait containing rabies vaccine in parts of eastern and southern Ontario.

Right now the rabies vaccine baiting program is limited to the City of Cornwall and to the Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry portion of the Five Counties region though it may be extended to other parts of Eastern Ontario if the need arises. All of southern Ontario is included as part of the program.

The aim of the program is to reduce the risk of rabies developing in local wildlife, which are most susceptible to the disease. That includes skunks, raccoons, and foxes.

The program features a combination of airdrop of vaccine-treated bait over most rural areas and placement by hand in urban areas in locations where the animals might be foraging.

The bait is khaki-green in colour, stamped with a text warning identifying it as rabies vaccine bait, and smells like marshmallow to attract animals. Embedded in the bait is a plastic package containing the anti-rabies vaccine.

Residents who are in the wooded or rural areas of SDG for any reason are advised to be careful that children and pets do not find and eat the treated bait. Leave it for skunks, raccoons or foxes to find and eat.