ONRAB
(Wildlife)
An oral vaccine that protects wildlife and prevents Rabies outbreaks before they start.
Wild animals like raccoons, skunks, and foxes spread most rabies cases in Canada and the U.S.ONRAB helps reduce the risk before it reaches people, pets, or livestock. |
It is an edible bait containing a live recombinant adenovirus vaccine.Once consumed, the animal’s immune system learns to fight rabies.No needles. No capture. Just smart, science-based prevention. |
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It is designed for wild animals most likely to spread rabies
ONRAB has been used in field trials since 2006, with broad rollout starting in 2011.
Today, it’s part of ongoing rabies control programs in:
Canada and the United States
The vaccine is distributed through airplanes and hand placements in key wildlife rabies transmission zones.
ONRAB has shown high seroconversion rates in trials and real-world use.
Its wide adoption has contributed to élimination of rabies (fox & raccoons) from Southern Ontario
ONRAB is safe on contact
| If contact with the bait or vaccine occurs, call:
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FAQs
ONRAB is an oral rabies vaccine. It comes in the form of an edible bait designed to immunize wildlife—specifically raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
It contains a recombinant human adenovirus that expresses the rabies virus glycoprotein.
When animals eat the bait, the vaccine triggers an immune response that protects them from rabies.
ONRAB is targeted at raccoons, skunks, and foxes—the main terrestrial carriers of rabies in North America.
It is not intended for use in humans or livestock.
Yes, it has shown high seroconversion rates in field trials and wide-scale use.
Since 2011, it has contributed to rabies elimination from Ontario and significant reduction of cases in New Brunswick.
ONRAB is used in Canada and some parts of the eastern United States.
It is distributed by aerial drops and hand placements in zones where rabies control is needed.
It’s considered safe for pets. ONRAB is not harmful if handled or accidentally consumed.
If unsure, contact your veterinarian for guidance.
Human contact is not dangerous, but basic precautions are recommended.
If exposure occurs:
- Canada: Call 1-888-574-6656
- USA: Call 1-888-574-6656
It’s a PVC blister pack coated in bait material to attract wildlife.
It’s about the size of a coin and carries a printed label.
ONRAB Publications
Brown LJ, Rosatte RC, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Bachmann P, Ellison JA, Jackson FR, Taylor JS, Davies C, Donovan D (in press) Oral vaccination and protection of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) against rabies using ONRAB®, an adenovirus-rabies recombinant vaccine. Vaccine, 32:984– 989 Go to the publication (opens in a new tab)
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Brown LJ, Rosatte RC, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Ellison JA, Jackson FR, Bachmann P, Taylor JS, Franka R, Donovan D (submitted) Oral vaccination and protection of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) against rabies using ONRAB®. Vaccine, 32:3675–3679 Go to the publication (opens in a new tab)
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Gilbert A, Johnson S, Walker N, Wickham C, Beath A, VerCauteren K (2018) Efficacy of Ontario Rabies Vaccine Baits (ONRAB) against rabies infection in raccoons. Vaccine, 36(32 Pt B):4919-4926 |
Gilbert A, Johnson S, Walker N, Beath A, VerCauteren K (2018) Flavor preference and efficacy of variable dose Ontario rabies vaccine bait (ONRAB) delivery in striped skunks. J Wildl Dis, 54(1): 122–132 |
Brown LJ, Rosatte RC, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Taylor JS, Davies JC, Donovan D (2012) Immune reponse and protection in raccoons (Procyon lotor) following consumption of baits containing ONRAB®, a human adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine. J Wildl Dis, 48(4):1010-1020 |
Berentsen AR et al (2021) Rabies vaccination of small indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) with ONRAB via ultralite baits. Viruses, 2021, 13(5):734 |
Berentsen AR et al. Immunogenicity of Ontario Rabies Vaccine for small Indian Mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus). J Wildl Dis, 2020, 56(1):224-228 |
Sobey KG, Jamieson SE, Walpole AA, Rosatte RC, Donovan D, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Nadin-Davis SA, Davies JC, Kyle CJ (2019) ONRAB oral rabies vaccine is shed from, but does not persist in, captive mammals. Vaccine, 37:4310–4317 Go to the publication (opens in a new tab)
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Sobey KG, Walpole AA, Rosatte R, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Donovan D, Bachmann P, Coulson S, Beresford A, Bruce L, Kyle CJ (2013) An assessment of ONRAB® oral rabies vaccine persistence in free-ranging mammal populations in Ontario, Canada, Vaccine, 31: 2207– 2213 Go to the publication (opens in a new tab)
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Fry TL, VanDalen KK, Duncan C, VerCauteren K (2013) The safety of ONRAB®in select non-target wildlife. Vaccine, 31:3839– 3842 Go to the publication (opens in a new tab)
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Knowles MK et al (2009) In vitro and in vivo genetic stability studies of a human adenovirus type 5 recombinant rabies glycoprotein vaccine (ONRAB). Vaccine, 27:2662-2668 Go to the publication (opens in a new tab)
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Knowles MK et al (2009) Safety studies on an adenovirus recombinant vaccine for rabies (AdRG1.3 - Onrab®) in target and non-target species. Vaccine, 27:6619-6626 Go to the publication (opens in a new tab)
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Shwiff SA, Acheson ES, Altringer L, Leighton PA, Nituch L, Sykora S, et al. (2025)
Benefit-cost analysis of raccoon rabies control in Ontario, Canada. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 19(11):e0013696.
Slate D, Chipman RB, Algeo TP, Mills SA, Nelson KM, Croson CK, Dubovi EJ, Vercauteren K, Renshaw RW, Atwood T, Johnson S, Rupprecht CE (2014) SAFETY AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF ONTARIO RABIES VACCINE BAIT (ONRAB) IN THE FIRST US FIELD TRIAL IN RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR). J Wildl Dis, 50(3),582–595 |
Rosatte RC et al (2011) High-density baiting with ONRAB® rabies vaccine baits to control arctic-variant rabies in striped skunks in Ontario, Canada. J Wildl Dis, 47(2):459-465 |
Boyer J-P, Canac-Marquis P, Guérin D, Mainguy J, Pelletier F (2011) Oral vaccination against raccoon rabies : landscape heterogeneity and timing of distribution influence wildlife contact rates with the ONRAB vaccine bait. J Wildl Dis, 47(3):593-602 |
Rosatte RC et al (2011) Aerial distribution of ONRAB® baits as a tactic to control rabies in raccoons and striped skunks in Ontario, Canada. J Wildl Dis, 45:363-374 |
Fehlner-Gardiner C et al (2012) Comparing ONRAB® and Raboral V-RG® oral rabies vaccine field performance in raccoons and striped skunks, New Brunswick, Canada, and Maine, USA. J Wildl Dis, 48:157-167 |
Mainguy J et al (2012) Oral rabies vaccination of raccoons and striped skunks with ONRAB® baits: multiple factors influence field immunogenicity. J Wildl Dis, 48(4):979-990 |
Mainguy J, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Slate D, Rudd RJ (2013) Oral Rabies Vaccination in Raccoons: Comparison of ONRAB® and RABORAL V-RG® Vaccine-Bait Field Performance in Quebec, Canada and Vermont, USA. J Wildl Dis, 49(1):190-193 |
Pedersen K, Gilbert AT, Nelson KM, Morgan DP, Davis AJ, VerCauteren KC, Slate D, Chipman RB (2019) Raccoon (Procyon lotor) response to Ontario rabies vaccine baits (ONRAB) in St. Lawrence county, New York. J Wildl Dis, 55(3):645-653 |
Johnson SR, Slate D, Nelson KM, Davis AJ, Mills SA, Forbes JT, VerCauteren KC, Gilbert AT, Chipman RB (2021) Serological Responses of Raccoons and Striped Skunks to Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait in West Virginia during 2012–2016. Viruses, 13:157 |
Gilbert AT, Johnson SR, Nelson KM, Chipman RB, VerCauteren KC, Algeo TP, Rupprecht CE, Slate D (2018) FIELD TRIALS OF ONTARIO RABIES VACCINE BAIT IN THE NORTHEASTERN USA, 2012-14. J Wildl Dis, 54(4):790-801 |
The tool is here. The science is ready. The global community is committed. For Rabies Free Streets |