New Brunswick tackling raccoon, skunk rabies outbreak by air

It may seem like overkill, but New Brunswick is combatting rabies with an airstrike.

A $660,000 program is underway to help the province deal with an outbreak of rabies in the southwest.

The program involves airdrops of food bait containing a vaccine for rabies. The first phase involves eight flights dropping the vaccine throughout Charlotte County.

"These are baits that are surrounded by this delicious coating of fat, wax, sugar and vanilla flavour that is very appealing to raccoons and skunks and inside the baits themselves is a little capsule containing the vaccine," said James Goltz, New Brunswick's Chief Provincial Veterinarian.

Goltz says even though the packets are harmless to humans and their pets, if one is found, it should not be consumed.

"If you find the baits, leave them where they are. If they're in an open area, use a plastic bag to pick them up and put them in the woods nearby," he said. 

"Don't let your pets eat them because it's better for the raccoons and skunks to become immunized and it won't immunize your pets. They will still need to get a shot."

Ontario has been dropping this type of vaccine by air since 1989. As pioneers of the program, the province has been helping to combat rabies over much of North America.

"We've worked closely with several provinces and states. We've only been to New Brunswick once before with the aerial baiting program," said Beverly Stevenson with Ontario Natural Resources and Forestry.

There have been 20 confirmed rabies cases in raccoons and skunks in New Brunswick over the past year.

Goltz hopes the airdrops will become a regular program in order to prevent any cases of rabies from popping up in the future.

In the weeks ahead, baits will also be placed by hand in areas with dense populations such as St. Andrews, St. Stephen and Blacks Harbour.