To help reduce the spread of rabies, Quebec officials will distribute nearly half a million vaccine baits by plane over the coming days in the Eastern Townships, Montérégie and Centre-du-Québec regions.
The aerial baiting operation will take place from Sept. 19 to 23. The goal is to immunize as many raccoons, skunks and foxes as possible and curb the spread of raccoon rabies in Quebec.
The Ministry of the Environment says about 440,000 vaccine baits will be distributed from low-flying aircraft over an area of nearly 3,200 square kilometres, covering 62 municipalities: 29 in the Eastern Townships, 22 in Montérégie and 11 in the Centre-du-Québec region.
Rabies is a contagious and fatal disease that can affect all mammals, meaning it can be transmitted from infected animals to humans.
The vaccine bait resembles a greenish ketchup packet or a khaki-green ravioli and emits a sweet odour that attracts the target species. Officials are warning residents not to touch or move the baits if they encounter one.
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