Rabid raccoon sighting prompts Quebec ministry to employ rabies vaccine plan
After a rabid raccoon was reported in Vermont, 10 kilometres from the Quebec border, the provincial Environment Ministry will distribute vaccine bait in 17 municipalities in the Eastern Townships and Monteregie.
Crews will set the 46,200 vaccine baits in 17 municipalities from April 22 to 30, which will cover around 660 square kilometres to limit the risk of raccoon rabies coming back to Quebec.
"It will immunize raccoons, skunks and foxes against raccoon rabies and help to protect human health," the ministry said in a news release. "Wooded areas, stream banks, the periphery of agricultural fields and spaces near garbage cans will be particularly targeted."
The baits will be put in the municipalities noted on this map.
The ministry said the weather-resistent bait resembles a greenish ketchup packet and gives off a sweet smell to attract targeted species.
If spotted, residents are urged to avoid handling the bait, though it is safe for humans and pets and the environment, according to the ministry.
"It cannot under any circumstances transmit rabies," the ministry said.
Though it's safe, the ministry said to wash any part of your body that touches a broken vaccine bait and call Info-Sante at 811.
Pets that eat the bait are not considered vaccinated.
The ministry recommends the following advice to prevent rabies:
- If bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes and call 811.
- Don't approach unknown wild or domestic animals.
- Don't touch animal carcasses with your bare hands.
- Take steps to avoid attracting wild animals to your property, such as keeping outdoor garbage cans out of reach and pet food indoors.
- Don't relocate nuisance or orphaned animals.
- Get your pets vaccinated against rabies.
- Report raccoons, skunks and foxes or animals that seem disoriented, injured, unusually agressive or paralyzed. Call 1-877-346-6763.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
3 injured after man with knife enters Montreal-area mosque
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
Police arrest 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole Porsche and ran over its owner
Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.
Woman nearly shut out of mother's estate sues brother in B.C. Supreme Court – and wins
Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.
Teen arrested in New Brunswick after emergency alert; 5 people in custody
A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.
Kamala Harris tells Oprah any intruder to her home is 'getting shot'
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris on Thursday issued a warning to any potential home intruder: 'If somebody breaks in my house, they're getting shot.'
On the trail of the mystery woman whose company licensed exploding pagers
What Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, 49, the Italian-Hungarian CEO and owner of Hungary-based BAC Consulting, says she hasn't done is make the exploding pagers that killed 12 people and wounded more than 2,000 in Lebanon this week.
Woman shot by B.C. police was Colombian refugee with young daughter, advocate says
Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.
'We're still pushing hard': Search for missing Manitoba boy continues, RCMP find tracks
The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.
Video released of person of interest after cat is allegedly set on fire in Orillia, Ont.
Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.