Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry in East Hamilton to test Rabies Vaccine Effectiveness

Hamilton, ON - June 6, 2016 - The City of Hamilton is advising residents that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is currently working in parts of the city to test the effectiveness of the oral rabies vaccination program.

This testing involves a field assessment whereby MNRF will:

1. Humanely live-trap raccoons and skunks in experimental plots,
2. Collect a blood sample from each captured animal at a centralized processing facility, and
3. Release each animal at its point of capture after a full recovery. The blood samples collected from each animal will allow the MNRF to verify whether the animal has developed immunity to rabies.

The field assessment is taking place in parts of east Hamilton, including Stoney Creek, Winona and Glanbrook, and will be completed by Friday June 24, 2016.

Traps are being placed in wooded, obscure sites that are raccoon and skunk habitats and will be posted with information notices to explain the program should anyone come across them. The MNRF is also advising landowners in affected areas via letter to ask permission before they set any traps on property. 

Please direct any questions about this program to the MNRF’s rabies information line at 1-888-574-6656 or visit www.ontario.ca/rabies.

Important note: Animal Services is not involved in this testing process and should not be contacted unless it is to report an animal that is sick, injured, deceased or displaying unusual behavior. Animal Services also cannot intervene, remove or euthanize healthy animals.

Facts about rabies

Information to pet owners on protecting their animals with the recent increase in wildlife found positive for raccoon rabies in Hamilton:

Vaccination

You must have a current rabies vaccine for your cat and/or dog over 3 months old under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 567. Learn more about vaccinating your pet.

Prohibiting animals at large

Allowing dogs or cats to roam free on public property without a leash not only exposes that animal to increased risk of coming into contact with rabid wildlife, it is also a public safety concern. Even if a pet is leashed or enclosed in a yard or fenced area, pet owners are advised to keep a watchful eye, particularly in areas of Hamilton where a higher number of sick wildlife have been reported. Learn more about sick wildlife that has been reported.

Registration and Licensing

Hamilton Animal Services estimates there are approximately 70,000 dogs across Hamilton; however, and only 50% are properly licensed. Hamilton’s Responsible Animal Ownership By-law requires that all dog owners obtain an annual dog license before the dog is three months old and the license must be attached to the dog's collar.

While not mandatory, Hamilton residents are encouraged to buy a cat registration tag for $13 from the City of Hamilton.

Learn more about the benefits of dog licensing and cat registration.

Wildlife

Tips to avoid attracting wildlife and to prevent rabies.

What to do if you or your pet comes into contact with a wild animal

• Call Hamilton Animal Services at 905-574-3433 if you see a dead, sick or strangely acting raccoon, skunk or other wild animal
• If you are bitten by a wild animal, or there is direct mucous membrane contact with the animal’s saliva, wash the wound with soap and water, seek medical attention immediately or call Public Health Services at 905-546-2489.
• Contact your vet or the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) at 1-877-424-1300 if your pet is in contact with a wild animal

Background

Following the re-occurrence of raccoon strain rabies in Ontario in December 2015, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry responded with an aggressive rabies control program consisting of distributing baits containing an oral rabies vaccine (ONRAB®), targeting raccoons and skunks in the Golden Horseshoe Area. When ingested, these baits will immunize the targeted species against rabies. Prior to December 2015, Ontario had been raccoon rabies free for almost a decade.

To control the spread of rabies in southern Ontario, since December 2015 the MNRF has distributed approximately 750,000 baits containing ONRAB® vaccine from aircraft and by hand in southern Ontario. To assess the effectiveness of these baiting programs, the MNRF is now testing raccoons and skunks to determine how many of these animals have developed immunity to rabies from ingestion of the vaccine baits.