An increase in the number of racoon rabies cases reported in Vermont close to the Quebec border has led the Ministry of Environment to conduct wild animal vaccination operations in the Estrie and Montérégie regions
The vaccination campaign is running Aug. 7-24 in order limit the risk of the disease being reintroduced in the province.
According to Marianne Gagnier, biologist and coordinator of the Raccoon Rabies Surveillance and Control Operations for Quebec, the Ministry of Environment conducted its first vaccination campaign in the spring as a response to the reported cases in Vermont, and it will continue to immunize racoons, skunks, and foxes against racoon rabies over the next couple of weeks.
The vaccine bait will be dispersed over 59 municipalities in Estrie and Montérégie either by plane in highly forested areas or ground baiting, which sees biologists and wildlife technicians on the ground targeting specific habitats, explained Gagnier.
