“We’re trying to create a buffer of vaccinated wildlife in that area, so it stops raccoon rabies from spreading from New York into Ontario,” Beverly Stevenson, an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources told CTV News.
Trapping is heralded as a necessary act to protect wildlife populations from the spread of disease. And if the total lack of science supporting that theory isn’t enough, the evidence showing the opposite is true should.
The number of rabies cases found in the province has dropped 99 per cent since the vaccine program was instituted 20 years ago. In New York, 32 laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies were identified in June alone.
The vaccines are dropped in the form of an edible bait, which, since we are Canadian, is maple flavoured.
This is another indication that current science, not old wives tales told at fur auctions, should dictate wildlife policy.
Work like our growing Living With Wildlife campaign is only possible with the support of monthly donors. Please consider become a monthly donor – for as little as $5 a month – and help us create a Canada that is truly humane.
