General Notice of Rabies Research and Control Operations for 2021

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry role is to manage and research rabies in wildlife and we focus on two means of controlling rabies: distribution of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits and trap-vaccinate-release of wildlife.

Aerial baiting consists of distribution of baits containing oral rabies vaccine (ONRAB®) from airplanes or helicopters over large areas where terrestrial (non-bat) rabies is present. Vaccine baits may also be distributed by hand in urban areas where terrestrial rabies is present. Vaccine baits are distributed in areas where terrestrial rabies is present and in an approximately 50 km buffer surrounding all positive cases.

There are two strains of terrestrial rabies that pose a threat to Ontario: Arctic strain rabies (which occurs mostly in foxes and skunks in southwestern and far northern Ontario) and raccoon strain rabies (which occurs mostly in raccoons and skunks and is present along the border areas in New York State and southern Ontario). Both strains can occur in any species of mammal.

The trap-vaccinate-release program is used to immunize wildlife in high risk areas, to help prevent the disease from spreading or becoming established in Ontario.

Planned Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry activities for the 2021 season include:

• Hand-baiting in urban areas within 50 km of positive raccoon strain rabies cases found in the Brant, Haldimand, Hamilton, Niagara, Norfolk and Waterloo areas: July - October
• Aerial baiting in the St. Lawrence area in Frontenac, Leeds & Grenville and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry counties (on islands and/or a small area of mainland) and hand baiting in Cornwall to prevent the spread of raccoon strain rabies from New York: August
• Large-scale aerial baiting in the Golden Horseshoe area (Brant, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Norfolk, Oxford, Peel, Perth, Toronto, Waterloo and Wellington counties), within 50 km of any positive cases to prevent the further spread of raccoon strain rabies in that area: August to mid-September
• Trap-vaccinate-release of raccoons and skunks in focused strategic areas in Burlington, Dundas, Ancaster, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Welland areas: July to October.
• Enhanced surveillance (testing of dead, sick wildlife) within 50 km of known Arctic fox or raccoon variant rabies cases: throughout the year
• Rapid Response, if required, to any new confirmed rabies cases of fox or raccoon variant rabies outside or on the periphery of the surveillance area with a combination of baiting and trap-vaccinate-release.
• The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is a leading agency in research of this deadly disease. Ministry studies of wildlife movement and genetics and vaccine and bait development help ensure that Ontario’s rabies research and control program is based on the best science available.

It is necessary to continue rabies control programs and enhanced surveillance even when the number of rabies cases is low so that healthy wildlife populations do not become infected by the remaining rabid animals or from rabid animals that enter Ontario across our borders. The province remains attentive to ensure any new outbreaks are detected early and responded to effectively.

Comments on rabies control programs may be directed to the contact person listed in this notice until October 15, 2021. Comments will also be accepted by e-mail at rabies@ontario.ca.

Other information

Through public meetings and consultation with health experts, municipal and regional officials, wildlife rehabilitators and other stakeholders, every regional health unit in the province developed a contingency plan, which is updated annually, for this deadly virus.