| Since its founding in 1984 the Ohio Wildlife Center has: • Treated over 50,000 injured or orphaned wildlife, • Provided educational experiences to 950,000 children and adults, • Responded to over 550,000 wildlife hotline calls. This has all been made possible by the donation of 500,000 hours of dedicated volunteer work. |
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Raccoon Rabies Report
OWC has also been working with Ohio Division of Wildlife, Capital Area Humane Society and Franklin County Animal Control in an attempt to establish a consistent response to sick and injured raccoons. This committee is seeking funding for staff and equipment to provide pick up of these animals. Public reaction to recent media coverage of rabies issues has caused a dramatic increase in OWC's hotline calls. 
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![[Racoon Photograph]](/images/racoon.jpg)
The Ohio Wildlife Center has been addressing raccoon issues on several fronts. First, our Clinic Director has
been representing OWC at the Coalition For Responsible Urban Pet and Wildlife meetings.
This is a panel of representatives from governmental agencies and private
organizations whose purpose is to respond to the impending migration of raccoon-strain
rabies into Central Ohio (there are different strains of rabies). As of August 28,
1997, there have been 53 confirmed cases of raccoon-strain rabies in four counties in
northeastern Ohio. The epizootic is expected to reach Central Ohio by spring of
1998. The Department of Health has implemented an emergency oral vaccination effort
to slow the progression. Approximately 100,000 vaccine baits were distributed by
helicopter and ground teams over an area of 695 square miles in NE Ohio. Blood
samples taken from raccoons trapped in the baited areas during the weeks of June 16 and
June 23 showed that rabies antibodies were present in 34.5% of the animals tested.
Additional vaccine-bait distributions covering the entire Ohio-Pennsylvania border
are planned for Fall 1997 and Spring 1998.