The discovery of fifteen cases of rage from the raccoon since the beginning of the year leads the Ministry of the Environment, the fight against climate change, fauna and parks to launch a new operation to distribute vaccine bait. It will take place from April 14 to 24 in the Municipalities of Haut-Richelieu located east of the Richelieu River.
The objective of this vaccination operation is to immunize the raccoons, the skuffs and the foxes. This approach aims to curb the propagation of the rage of the raccoon according to the discovery, in Quebec, of several cases of the disease in raccoils since December 2024.
During the operation, specialists from the ministry will cover a territory of 1100 km² to manually spread around 75,000 vaccine baits in wooded areas, on the banks of rivers, to the permanent fields of agricultural fields, abandoned buildings, and near the garbage cans.
Clarenceville, Henryville, Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Noyan, Saint-Alexandre, Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois, Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Sébastien and Venise-en-Québec will be visited as part of this operation. Ange-Gardien and Estrie municipalities will also be targeted.
Bait
Vaccinal bait looks like a sachet of greenish ketchup or khaki green ravioli, and it gives off a sweet odor attractive to targeted species. Because of its color, it merges with the environment and it is difficult to spot for humans. Its envelope is designed to withstand the weather.
Due to the cases of rage detected, the ministry asks the population of Haut-Richelieu to actively participate in raised surveillance. People are invited to point out the raccoons, the skuffs and the died or who seem disoriented, injured, abnormally aggressive or paralyzed by calling for 1 877 346-6763 or by filling out the online form.
