General Notice of Rabies Research and Control Operations for 2025

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) role is to manage and research rabies in wildlife and we focus on two means of controlling rabies: distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits (ORV) and Trap-Vaccinate-Release (TVR) of wildlife.

Baiting operations consists of the distribution of baits containing oral rabies vaccine (ONRAB) from airplanes or helicopters over large areas where terrestrial (non-bat) rabies is present. In urban areas, vaccine baits are distributed by hand in urban areas where terrestrial rabies is present. Vaccine baits are distributed within 50 km surrounding positive cases for at least two years since detection.

There are two strains of terrestrial rabies that currently pose a threat to Ontario: Arctic fox 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 MNR activities for the 2025 season include:

• Hand-baiting in urban areas near where positive raccoon strain rabies cases have been found within Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton and Niagara municipalities: mid June – September.
• Large-scale aerial baiting within 50 km of current positive cases (Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton and Niagara municipalities) to prevent the further spread of raccoon strain rabies in that area: August to mid-September.
• Aerial baiting in the St. Lawrence area in Frontenac, Leeds & Grenville and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry municipalities (on islands and a small area of mainland) and hand baiting in the city of Cornwall to prevent the spread of raccoon strain rabies from New York: August.
• Trap-Vaccinate-Release of raccoons, skunks and foxes in focused strategic areas in the city of St. Catharines: May to October.
• Surveillance (testing of dead, sick and strange-acting wildlife) that showed signs typical of rabies from within the rabies surveillance zone and across the province: throughout the year.
• Rapid Response, if required, to any new confirmed rabies cases of fox or raccoon strain rabies outside or on the periphery of the surveillance area with a combination of baiting and Trap-Vaccinate-Release.

The MNR is a leading agency in research of this deadly disease. Ministry studies of wildlife movement, genetics and vaccine and bait development help ensure that Ontario’s Rabies Program is based on the best science available.

It is necessary to continue rabies preventative control programs and enhanced surveillance even when the number of rabies cases is low to prevent the spread of rabies to healthy wildlife populations and to protect wildlife from rabid animals that could enter Ontario from across our borders. The province remains attentive to ensure any new outbreaks are detected early and responded to effectively.

Comments on the ministry’s Rabies Program may be directed to the contact person listed in this notice until October 17, 2025. 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, Indigenous communities, wildlife rehabilitators and other stakeholders, every regional health unit in the province developed a contingency plan for this deadly virus which is updated annually.