Quebec wildlife authorities issue warning about rabid raccoons east of Montreal
Risk of raccoon rabies is high in Haut-Richelieu and Brome-Missiquoi regions
Quebec's Ministry of the Environment, Wildlife and the Fight against Climate Change is asking people who live east and southeast of Montreal to be on the lookout for rabid raccoons.
The ministry put out a statement Friday afternoon, saying there has been a recent increase in the number of cases of raccoon rabies being reported in Vermont, near Quebec.
Since March 2022, more than 30 cases of rabies have been detected between Burlington, Vt., and the Canada-U.S. border. In March 2024, infected raccoons were found near the border.
In the past, there have been campaigns to vaccinate raccoons and other wildlife against rabies but the ministry says no wild animal vaccination has been carried out in that area since 2020.
While the government is working on a plan to vaccinate raccoons in the Townships and on the South Shore, it is asking people, in the meantime, to "actively participate in enhanced surveillance."
"The public is being asked to report dead, apparently disoriented, injured or abnormally aggressive or paralyzed raccoons, skunks and foxes by calling 1-877-346-6762" or by filling out an online form.
Some of the areas that will need extra surveillance, according to documents from the ministry, include Akwesasne, Ange-Gardien, Candiac, Chambly, Kahnawake, Longueuil, Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Lambert and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
The ministry is warning people not to approach any unknown wild animal or to touch an animal carcass with bare hands. It also says people should take steps to avoid attracting wild animals to their property, for instance, by keeping garbage cans out of reach.