EN
Vaccinations of wild red foxes against rabies in the Wielkopolska region started in 1995 and initially led to a reduction in the number of morbidity cases in this species. In 2001 a rapid increase in the number of rabies focal areas were observed - epizootia covered almost the whole region and its vector was mainly red fox. The results of the foxes being vaccinated were analysed in relation to their population parameters. The studies were conducted in the centre of the region, where rabies was often recorded, and in the east, where it occurred occasionally. 77% of the hunted foxes were vaccinated in the study areas. In the centre of Wielkopolska region a lower immunization ratio was found in young foxes, especially in the individuals culled in the vicinity of villages and farms. The frequent occurrence of foxes close to human settlements in this area was due to the fact that their distribution was independent of distance to forests. The spreading of rabies in Wielkopolska region at the beginning of the XXI century may have been a result of distributing too small doses of the vaccine in farmland areas in the vicinity of towns and villages during the autumn period. Such places were omitted when the vaccine was scattered for reasons of human safety and, moreover, the vaccine could have been eaten by the local dogs and cats. However, young foxes often were found in these areas, and the autumn vaccination was the first possibility of immunizing them against rabies.