Acceptance of Simulated Oral Rabies Vaccine Baits by Urban Raccoons

Authors

John Hadidian, National Park ServiceFollow
Suzanne R. Jenkins, Virginia Department of Health
David H. Johnston, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Peter J. Savarie, Denver Wildlife Research Center
Victor F. Nettles, University of Georgia
David M. Manski, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
George M. Baer, Centers for Disease Control

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1989

Abstract

In summer 1986, a study was conducted to evaluate raccoon (Procyon lotor) acceptance of oral baits that could be used for rabies vaccination, One thousand wax-coated sponge bait cubes were filled with 5 mg of a seromarker (iophenoxic acid), placed in polyethylene bags, and hand-distributed in an 80 ha area within an urban National Park in Washington, D.C. (USA), After 3 wk, target and nontarget animals were trapped and blood samples collected to evaluate bait uptake. Thirty-three of 52 (63%) raccoons had elevated blood iodine levels indicating they had eaten at least one bait, 13 (25%) were negative, and six (12%) had marginal values, These results indicate that sponge baits hand-placed at a density of 12,4/ha can reach a significant proportion of an urban raccoon population. Implications for oral rabies vaccination of raccoons are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Hadidian, J., Jenkins, S. R., Johnston, D. H., Savarie, P. J., Nettles, V. F., Manski, D., & Baer, G. M. (1989). Acceptance of simulated oral rabies vaccine baits by urban raccoons. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 25(1), 1-9.