Tactics for the control of wildlife rabies in Ontario (Canada)

Two different tactics are currently being utilized to control rabies in foxes, skunks and raccoons in Ontario, Canada. The first tactic, which involves live-capturing with cage-traps and vaccinating by intramuscular injection, was successful in immunizing 54%-72% of the skunk and raccoon populations in a 60 km2 area of Toronto, Ontario. This area has been free of rabies for two-and-a-half years. The second tactic, involving the distribution of baits containing modified live-virus (ERA) rabies vaccine, was implemented to control rabies in foxes in both urban and rural areas of Ontario. In Toronto, 50% and 63% of the foxes were vaccinated during 1989 and 1990, respectively. Over the same period, 45% and 61% of the foxes in a 30,000 km2 area of south-eastern Ontario were immunized. Rabies is declining in both of these areas. A contingency plan has been devised to control an epizootic of raccoon rabies which is threatening to invade Ontario from the United States of America.