The Chief Veterinary Office has received a 43% increase in the number of sick, neurologic and aggressive raccoons causing exposures within Manitoba to date in 2025, as compared to 2024. Sick raccoons have been reported within the city of Winnipeg, especially in neighbourhoods along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, in West St. Paul and East St. Paul, Portage La Prairie, and in the RMs of South Cypress-Glenboro and St. Clements.

Reported symptoms in raccoons include lethargy, ataxia, circling, respiratory distress, aggression, seizure activity, and paralysis. Of all the reported sick raccoons, two thirds had caused an exposure (a bite or scratch) to either a person or a domestic animal and qualified for rabies testing through the provincial rabies surveillance program. While none of the raccoons tested positive for rabies, 100% of the raccoons that were tested for Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) have been positive.

Table 1. Calls to the Manitoba Agriculture rabies line about sick-looking and aggressive raccoons, 2024–2025	2024	2025*
Calls with no exposure / no test	11	5
Rabies test only (rabies positive)	5 (0)	6 (0)
Rabies + CDV test (CDV positive)	2 (2)	4 (4)
Total reported sick raccoons (# causing exposure)	18 (7)	15 (10)
Ratio of sick raccoons causing exposure	39.9%	66.7%

*Data up to October 22, 2025.

 

All of the calls in Table 1 have come through the Manitoba Agriculture rabies line concerned that raccoons have been displaying symptoms of rabies. Additional reports of sick raccoons have been reported to Winnipeg Animal Services and Manitoba Conservation Officer Services between June and October 2025 but are not reflected in the table above.

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

CDV is endemic in wildlife such as raccoons, foxes, coyotes, wolves, and skunks, and can infect domestic dogs. CDV is shed through respiratory droplets and requires close contact with infected animals. Less commonly, CDV can be found in urine and feces, with the virus surviving longer in cold environments (Cornell, 2025).

CDV can cause two phases of illness in dogs, with early symptoms appearing 1-2 weeks after exposure and delayed symptoms 3-6 weeks (or longer) after exposure (CAHSS, 2020). Early symptoms can present as thick, yellow discharge from the eyes and nose, respiratory symptoms, fever, lethargy, and gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea. Delayed symptoms can include neurological signs like seizures, circling, muscle twitching, and paralysis, as well as thickening and hardening of paw pads and the nose, and damaged tooth enamel. Delayed symptoms can overlap with early symptoms and can appear very similar to rabies. There is no specific treatment for CDV, and the disease is often fatal, especially in young and unvaccinated animals (Cornell, 2025). Recovered animals can shed the virus for weeks without clinical symptoms.

CDV is non-zoonotic and vaccine preventable. Pet owners are encouraged to keep their pets up to date on their vaccines, and to seek veterinary care and advice if their pets come into contact with a raccoon or other sick-looking wildlife. As CDV can look very similar to rabies, post-exposure immunization with rabies and CDV vaccines are often recommended after exposure to wildlife. Veterinarians can call the Manitoba Agriculture rabies line (204-470-1108) to discuss potential rabies exposures, vaccination recommendations, quarantines, and animal testing.

Questions about wildlife health, animal exposures, and human exposures to wildlife can be directed to the following:

• Concerns about sick wildlife when no exposure has occurred can be reported to the Wildlife Tip Line at 1-800-782-0076.
• For all concerns about potential exposures between wildlife and domestic animals, or to discuss sample collection for testing, call the Manitoba Agriculture rabies line, 204-470-1108.
• For concerns about potential exposures between animals and people, call Health Links – Info Santé at 204-788-8200 (Winnipeg), or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257 (outside of Winnipeg).

 

Alexandra Jerao, DVM MPH

Operations Veterinarian – One Health & Rabies

Office of the Chief Veterinarian

Manitoba Agriculture

 

References

CAHSS. (2020). Must-know facts about canine distemper. https://www.cahss.ca/CAHSS/Assets/Documents/Canine%20Distemper%202022%20EN%201.pdf

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. (2025). Canine Distemper. https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/disease/canine-distemper