Ontario Rabies Update May 7, 2025 – 3 New Fox Variant Cases, 0 Raccoon
There were three new cases of Arctic fox variant rabies detected this month in red foxes in far northern Ontario, along, and inland from, the James Bay coast. Arctic fox variant rabies is endemic across arctic and sub-arctic habitats in Canada. These detections highlight the risk that is always present in the region, and may or may not coincide with a natural peak in the cycling of the virus.
There were no new cases of raccoon or fox rabies detected this month in southern Ontario (March 26th to April 30th, 2025).
We are currently at 523 cases of raccoon variant (20 active and 503 expired) and 21 cases of fox variant rabies (21 expired) detected in southern Ontario to date, since December 2015.
Information on rabies cases in Canada, including bats, can be found on CFIA’s website at Rabies in Canada – Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Annual summaries of rabies cases in Ontario, including bats, are also listed by county at Rabies cases | ontario.ca
Note: MNR rabies updates are now shared on a monthly basis. The next update will be sent the week of May 26, 2025. In the event that a new case is detected, details will be shared as soon as possible. Current terrestrial rabies surveillance information continues to be available at https://www.ontario.ca/page/wildlife-rabies-outbreaks-and-control-operations#section-1. As always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Annual Summaries of Terrestrial Rabies in Far Northern Ontario
2025
|
Far Northern Ontario |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Total |
|
Arctic Fox Variant |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
Raccoon Variant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Annual Summaries of Terrestrial Rabies in Southern Ontario
Numbers in red in all tables are fox strain/variant.
Numbers in black in all tables are raccoon strain/variant.
2025
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Dog |
Total |
|
Brant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Haldimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Huron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Niagara |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Norfolk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Number of tests: 1084
Number of baits distributed: 0
2024
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Dog |
Total |
|
Brant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Haldimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Huron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Niagara |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Norfolk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Number of tests: 2,745
Number of baits distributed: 486,648
2023
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Dog |
Total |
|
Brant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Haldimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Huron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Niagara |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
Norfolk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
Number of tests: 2,974
Number of baits distributed: 671,933
2022
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Dog |
Total |
|
Brant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Haldimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Huron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Niagara |
5 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
|
Norfolk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
5 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
Number of DRIT tests: 4,762
Number of baits distributed: 729,741
2021
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Dog |
Total |
|
Brant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Haldimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Huron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Niagara |
2 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
Norfolk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
2 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
Number of DRIT tests: 2,872
Number of baits distributed: 841,700
2020
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Dog |
Total |
|
Brant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Haldimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Huron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Niagara |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
Norfolk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
3 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
Number of DRIT tests: 3,358
Number of baits distributed: 1,155,657
2019
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Dog |
Total |
|
Brant |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Haldimand |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
6 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
Huron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Niagara |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
Norfolk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
9 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
22 |
Number of DRIT tests: 4,425
Number of baits distributed: 1,164,992
2018
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Total |
|
Brant |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
Haldimand |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Halton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hamilton |
29 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
36 |
|
Huron |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Niagara |
10 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
|
Norfolk |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Perth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
50 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
65 |
Number of DRIT tests: 3,535
Number of baits distributed: 1,444,161
2017
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Bovine |
Total |
|
Brant |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Haldimand |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Halton |
8 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
|
Hamilton |
45 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
65 |
|
Huron |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Niagara |
19 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
|
Perth |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
|
Waterloo |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
10 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
86 |
32 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
119 |
Number of DRIT tests: 3,985
Number of baits distributed: 1,199,826
2016
|
County |
Raccoon |
Skunk |
Fox |
Cat |
Llama |
Bovine |
Total |
|
Brant |
11 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
Haldimand |
17 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
18 |
|
Halton |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
Hamilton |
126 |
76 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
204 |
|
Huron |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Niagara |
10 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
Perth |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
171 |
81 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
255 |
Number of DRIT tests: 4,586
Number of baits distributed: 1,655,075
2015 (December only)
|
County |
Raccoon |
Bovine |
Total |
|
Haldimand |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Hamilton |
9 |
0 |
9 |
|
Perth |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total Fox Strain |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total Raccoon Strain |
10 |
0 |
10 |
Number of DRIT tests: 145
Number of baits distributed: 219,965