Québec’s Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks issued Order 2025-1003 to address an urgent public and wildlife health concern: the resurgence of raccoon rabies in the province. The order, made under the authority of section 164.2 of the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife, aims to prevent the further spread of this deadly disease by temporarily prohibiting the live transportation of certain animals across designated municipalities in two key regions: Estrie and Montérégie. This regulation is a time-sensitive response to a real and pressing threat posed by the virus, which has recently seen a significant increase in reported cases within these regions.

The legal foundation of this emergency order lies in the Minister’s authority to act quickly when there is a credible threat of serious or irreversible harm to wildlife, their habitats, or public health and safety. Section 164.2 of the Act permits the Minister to impose such prohibitions for a maximum period of 60 days. The Minister exercised this power after reviewing troubling developments regarding the reappearance and proliferation of raccoon rabies—a disease that affects all mammals, including humans, and for which no treatment exists once symptoms begin. The disease poses grave public health risks and spreads easily through animal movement, particularly during the incubation phase when infected animals show no symptoms.

To contain this threat, the order prohibits the live transportation of raccoons (Procyon lotor), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), grey foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and coyotes (Canis latrans) along with their hybrids. These species are known carriers and vectors of the rabies virus. By restricting their movement, especially in areas with confirmed outbreaks, the government seeks to reduce the risk of introducing the virus into new areas and igniting further epidemic clusters. The prohibition applies specifically to the transportation of these animals while alive—addressing the core mode of disease expansion linked to human or commercial mobility of wildlife.

The regulation acknowledges that movement of animals during their asymptomatic incubation stage is particularly dangerous, as it creates a silent pathway for viral expansion. This is especially relevant in contexts where animals may be trapped, sold, relocated, or used in rehabilitation programs. The prohibition aims to halt such movements temporarily, giving health and wildlife officials time to contain outbreaks, monitor infection zones, and implement vaccination or euthanasia programs where necessary.

Overall, Order 2025-1003 demonstrates a rapid-response regulatory action grounded in public health science and wildlife conservation principles. The temporary transport ban on key species in high-risk municipalities aims to halt a potentially escalating rabies outbreak before it overwhelms containment capabilities, thereby protecting both communities and ecosystems from long-term harm.

Quebec (1003/2025) June 18, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and do not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.