Hunters to receive €15 for each fox and raccoon dog they shoot

Latvia's Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) will begin accepting foxes and raccoon dogs shot by hunters, in order to assess how effective the vaccination of wild animals against rabies is along the country's eastern border. Hunters will be able to receive €15 in compensation for each animal handed in, the PVD said on its website.

How the check works

The service monitors vaccination effectiveness in autumn, once 30 days have passed since wild animals were vaccinated. Animals shot in vaccinated areas are tested in a laboratory to establish whether they have eaten the vaccine and are immune to the rabies virus.

The areas covered are the municipalities of Augšdaugava, Alūksne, Balvi, Ludza and Krāslava, all of Rēzekne municipality (except Dekšāre parish), and selected parishes and towns in the municipalities of Preiļi, Gulbene, Madona and Smiltene. In Gulbene municipality, for example, these include Beļava, Lejasciems and Tirza parishes along with Gulbene town, while in Madona municipality they include Indrāni and Ošupe parishes and Lubāna town. Hunters active in the area can contact PVD regional units for details on the number of samples needed and other specifics.

Previous results

In 2025, 86% of the animals examined had eaten the vaccine, and 70% had antibody levels high enough to protect them from the disease.

About rabies

Rabies is an incurable infectious disease that threatens the lives of both animals and people. Pets, most often unvaccinated dogs and cats, become infected through contact with sick wild animals. Timely vaccination is the only effective preventive measure.

The rabies control programme developed by the PVD has been approved and is co-financed by the European Commission. Wild animals have been vaccinated regularly in spring and autumn since 2005. The last rabies case in wild animals in Latvia was recorded in 2010, and in domestic animals in 2012. In 2015, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) officially recognised Latvia as rabies-free.

Given the spread of the disease in neighbouring countries, the PVD urges owners to vaccinate pets regularly and to report any suspected case to a veterinarian or the service.