This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

racoon on fire escape - Page 2 — Brooklynian

racoon on fire escape

2

Comments

  • laura b
    laura b
    (Apologies for the double post; I posted this to the Pets section before seeing it here.)

    Try 311 and ACC, but I'm not sure how responsive they'll be.

    As far as I know there's not a lot you can do. Daylight and no leftover food are your best defenses:

    - feed only in daylight, as raccoons tend to come out between dusk and dawn (though they're pretty assertive around here!);
    - put food out only at a certain time, and remove any extra as soon as the cats have fed;
    - raccoons can climb, but they can't jump--and cats can--so elevated feeding stations like this one work: http://www.thewildones.net/raccoons.htm (although since you're talking about a fire escape this may not be feasible).

    Also keep in mind the matter of rabies. Here's the lowdown from Neighborhood Cats:
    Normally, raccoons are gentle, non-aggressive animals. However, they have been known to hunt kittens, especially when there is a shortage of food, and they can be aggressive if they feel frightened or threatened.

    Of great concern is that raccoons are the largest reservoir of rabies in the Northeastern United States. They can transmit the virus to human and to
    cats. In fact, most cases of rabies in cats occur in the Northeast because of the presence of raccoons. It is theoretically possible for a cat to catch rabies from a raccoon and then transmit it to a person.

    Because of this very real danger, certain steps should always be taken when feral cats and raccoons co-exist in the same territory:

    1. All cats should be rabies vaccinated!! Vaccinations should be kept up to date as much as reasonably possible. The cats then become a buffer between raccoon rabies and people, which is one of the great advantages of TNR.

    2. The feeding of raccoons should be avoided. By feeding raccoons, you are increasing the number of raccoons which the habitat can support and you are attracting them closer to human populations. The ideal way to approach the problem is to train the cats to eat at a certain time of day (during daylight hours), then remove the food as soon as you can after they're done. Food should never be left out at night, when the raccoons are most active. If necessary, feeding containers such as the one described by Nancy of CSM Stray should be used.
    Good luck, and let us know what happens!
  • laura b
    laura b
    brooklynpotter wrote: a:
    the critter-buster ambulance guy has his cool old ambulance parked on my block.
    Does anyone know how this guy traps and what he actually does with the animals once he traps them?
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    Laura B wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter]a:
    the critter-buster ambulance guy has his cool old ambulance parked on my block.
    Does anyone know how this guy traps and what he actually does with the animals once he traps them?

    I personally thought the guy was crazy--but that is just from observing him and not actually knowing him so I could be TOTALLY TOTALLY wrong. We used to always seem to park near each other.
  • drano
    drano
    Laura B wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter]a:
    the critter-buster ambulance guy has his cool old ambulance parked on my block.
    Does anyone know how this guy traps and what he actually does with the animals once he traps them?

    Nope. Last I knew he was legit and licensed and all that, but as far as the rest goes, you - or whoever is interested - will need to ask him. Beware of euphemisms such as "Raccoon party in the sky" and so forth. Plus maybe he'll give you a ride in the Ghostmobile.

    And in the interests of saftey, don't fool yourselves: raccoons don't need to be rabid to be aggressive, and they're tough as hell. While it is true that they are usually pretty mellow and happy to stay out of your way, you can't count on it. Goes for any wildlife, really - didn't Jimmy Carter get jumped by a bunny rabbit?
  • pitu
    pitu
    Trapper John
    718-832-1111

    made note of it once, after we chased a squirrel out of the house

    whoever calls him, please find out if he's really a math teacher

    :D
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    pitu wrote: Trapper John
    718-832-1111

    made note of it once, after we chased a squirrel out of the house

    whoever calls him, please find out if he's really a math teacher

    :D
    i had to call him once about mice, but we ended up not using him (or anyone. don't ask...). i found him really pleasant and nice; i've also seen him on the street standing by his "fleet" nd chatted a bit. seems like a really decent guy. (though lots of curious bumperstickers on his trucks about hunting... then again, one of them says something like "parents who take their kids hunting have kids who don't kill other kids"

    whatever, he seems legit and a decent person. and he obviously has a sense of humor if he's driving that ambulance.
  • quijibo
    quijibo
    brooklynpotter wrote: ergo, if the SAME raccoon has been "torturing" you for some time it's more likely it's mentally ill instead of rabid.
    LOCK YOU DOORS!!!!! :shock:

    instead of leaving cat food out on your fire escape
    – try leaving some Prozac
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    also remember that there are raccoons all over brooklyn if not all of nyc.
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    this morning i ran into james, the guy with the critter buster ambulance, and i asked him about raccoons in our neighborhood, and in general.

    some things you should know: killing a raccoon is a crime, just as much as killing a cat or a dog unless the animal is trying to harm you.

    if the raccoon is hanging out at your house it's because you've somehow invited him there: food for pets, garbage that's not securely closed, etc. because of our close proximity with them, they've become quite accustomed to us and they aren't frightened by us. ergo, they'll come a lot closer than you expect.

    also, if he (or anyone else) traps a raccoon it must LEGALLY be handed over to the city. unfortunately, these raccoons are euthanized and then tested for rabies (the only way is to test brain tissue).

    ergo, don't invite the raccoons, they'll go away, and then they won't be killed.
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    brooklynpotter wrote: if the raccoon is hanging out at your house it's because you've somehow invited him there: food for pets, garbage that's not securely closed, etc. because of our close proximity with them, they've become quite accustomed to us and they aren't frightened by us. ergo, they'll come a lot closer than you expect.

    also, if he (or anyone else) traps a raccoon it must LEGALLY be handed over to the city. unfortunately, these raccoons are euthanized and then tested for rabies (the only way is to test brain tissue).
    O.K. I'll tell my neighbors to stop buying groceries--because last night it ripped open their screen and climbed in to get food left on their kitchen table.

    Actually the NYS law for manacing or destructing wildlife is:
    Raccoons, coyotes or fox injuring private property may be taken by the owner, occupant or lessee thereof, or an employee or family member of such owner, occupant or lessee, at any time in any manner
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    how about, instead of being a sarcastic asshat, you actually try to work the problem.
  • smitty
    smitty
    What about the ASPCA or animal control?
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    Smitty wrote: What about the ASPCA or animal control?
    I am not sure if the OP had any luck, but I was told by various city agencies that unless it is in my house--it is my responsibility. (Although I never called ASPCA). But I think it might have died. It hasn't been around in two nights--which for this raccoon is unusual.

    I told all the neighbors to only feed the strays in the mornings. We can't just stop feeding all these cats--they are dependent on people to feed them and I also don't want the strays killing any more birds--now with the migration, there are a lot of birds around.
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    kensingtonmom wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter]if the raccoon is hanging out at your house it's because you've somehow invited him there: food for pets, garbage that's not securely closed, etc. because of our close proximity with them, they've become quite accustomed to us and they aren't frightened by us. ergo, they'll come a lot closer than you expect.

    also, if he (or anyone else) traps a raccoon it must LEGALLY be handed over to the city. unfortunately, these raccoons are euthanized and then tested for rabies (the only way is to test brain tissue).
    O.K. I'll tell my neighbors to stop buying groceries--because last night it ripped open their screen and climbed in to get food left on their kitchen table.

    couldn't your neighbors figure something out - open their windows from the top instead of the bottom - or perhaps install some kind of gate, it's not that hard.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    kensingtonmom wrote: We can't just stop feeding all these cats--they are dependent on people to feed them and I also don't want the strays killing any more birds--now with the migration, there are a lot of birds around.
    Are these cats neutered? If not, you should speak with someone doing TNR, like Slope Street Cats...
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    vanilla wrote: couldn't your neighbors figure something out - open their windows from the top instead of the bottom - or perhaps install some kind of gate, it's not that hard..
    I think the neighbors are sleep deprived from a colicky baby. And who would think a raccoon could rip a screen and come inside in Brooklyn? I just don't think they are to blame on this--it isn't as if they moved to the exburbs and then are complaining about coyotes, deer or other wildlife.

    As a kid I had a pet rabbit and a raccoon came in to the house through the doggie door, and literally ripped the rabbit piece by piece through the bars of her cage and ate as much of her as he could before the screams woke up my parents who came down to a bloody mess.
  • jamzer
    jamzer
    kensingtonmom wrote: [quote=shishkab][raccoons are protected by law. it is a FEDERAL OFFENSE for you to kill wildlife. don't even think about it, lady.
    Actually it is not. You can kill a rabid animal and I have had to have one raccoon killed before. I am an animal lover but....I am worried this raccoon will bite one of the stray cats.

    Why is a stray cat worth more than a Racoon? SAVE THE RACOON! BANISH KENNSINGTON MOM TO JERSEY CITY! :lol:
  • quijibo
    quijibo
    kensingtonmom wrote: As a kid I had a pet rabbit and a raccoon came in to the house through the doggie door, and literally ripped the rabbit piece by piece through the bars of her cage and ate as much of her as he could before the screams woke up my parents who came down to a bloody mess.
    a-ha!!!!!!! your hatred of raccoons is made clear :shock:

    i'd hate raccoons too if that happened to me :oops:
  • rose
    rose
    I truly do not understand the hostility on this thread. Who wouldn't be freaked out if they thought they had a rabid raccoon in their yard?
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    kensingtonmom wrote: I think the neighbors are sleep deprived from a colicky baby. And who would think a raccoon could rip a screen and come inside in Brooklyn? I just don't think they are to blame on this--it isn't as if they moved to the exburbs and then are complaining about coyotes, deer or other wildlife.

    As a kid I had a pet rabbit and a raccoon came in to the house through the doggie door, and literally ripped the rabbit piece by piece through the bars of her cage and ate as much of her as he could before the screams woke up my parents who came down to a bloody mess.
    as a child in the country, my pregnant kitty was running across the yard when two neighborhood dogs ran across the field and ripped my kitty's belly apart. luckily i saw the entire thing and we rushed her to the closest vet. should this mean that all dogs be destroyed?

    i think that if your friends with the colicky baby are too sleep deprived to close a window so the raccoon will not return, i fear about their ability to provide for that baby. also, the above post suggests that this only happened once - but now that they know it could happen, it's their own fault if they don't protect themselves. moreover, closing a window from the bottom seems like a much more viable option than poisoning a raccoon that was simply trying to eat some groceries.
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    vanilla wrote: i think that if your friends with the colicky baby are too sleep deprived to close a window so the raccoon will not return, i fear about their ability to provide for that baby. also, the above post suggests that this only happened once - but now that they know it could happen, it's their own fault if they don't protect themselves. moreover, closing a window from the bottom seems like a much more viable option than poisoning a raccoon that was simply trying to eat some groceries..
    This is bordering on hilarious. I am happy to see so much support of raccoons in Brooklyn. Who would have thought that a *possible* rabid raccoon is afforded more rights than new parents of a colicky baby. To be clear: the raccoon got into their house twice--once through the air conditioner (which they fixed) the next time by ripping a screen.
    --It attacked another neighbor who went out in the evening to put out the trash--I'll make sure to tell them not to leave the house in the evenings anymore.
    --It charged the neighbor behind me when he stepped out on to his deck at night
    --it tried to rip the screen open on our back door.

    But of course, I am just an animal killing, card carrying member of the NRA, SUV driving, republican voting mother because I *THINK* *MAYBE* the city should have come to deal with this sick raccoon--who by the way, I think died. Geesh!
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    threatening to poison animals is not a joke, kensingtonmom.
  • erikka
    erikka
    Jamzer wrote: [quote=kensingtonmom][quote=shishkab][raccoons are protected by law. it is a FEDERAL OFFENSE for you to kill wildlife. don't even think about it, lady.
    Actually it is not. You can kill a rabid animal and I have had to have one raccoon killed before. I am an animal lover but....I am worried this raccoon will bite one of the stray cats.

    Why is a stray cat worth more than a Racoon? SAVE THE RACOON! BANISH KENNSINGTON MOM TO JERSEY CITY! :lol:

    HA!!!! Banishment to JC is a pretty rough fate.

    I've heard that in JC, there's raccoons that ride bikes like maniacs, looking to run over anyone pushing a stroller (because they hate kids).

    Raccoons are very large animals--if you poison one, you're gonna have the displeasure of disposing of the body. Not a pleasant task. The solution is easy enough--if you're going to feed strays, do it during daylight hours when raccoons won't be around.
  • rose
    rose
    vanilla wrote: threatening to poison animals is not a joke, kensingtonmom.
    Better avoid all the threads about dealing with mice in the kitchen.

    Also the PH board, where they're trading pictures of roadkill.

    Oh, wasn't someone in this very thread yearning to poison toddlers?
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    Critter Repellent
  • shishkab
    shishkab
    Rose wrote:

    Oh, wasn't someone in this very thread yearning to poison toddlers?
    you ought to read more carefully, dear. i don't appreciate being used out of context, thank you. what i said was:
    shishkab wrote:
    "you know what, rose? screaming toddlers frustrate me. i would never ever suggest doing something as cruel and inhumane as spiking their juice boxes with strychnine. and i use that example because, like animals, those toddlers are relatively helpless and utterly incapable of protecting themselves from such harm. i am frustrated but humane, therefore i tolerate screaming toddlers by removing myself from their presence."
  • rose
    rose
    I did read it carefully and I thought it was pretty horrifying, honestly. Strychnine in a juice box is okay to joke about? Really?

    Look, I have a kitten on my lap and a copy of Diet for a New America on my bookshelf. I gave my grandmother's fur coat to a homeless shelter and I've given money to PETA. I spend more on medical care for my animals than I do on myself. But I still think that all the outrage being expressed in this thread is basically fake.
  • rose
    rose
    I bought some of that coyote-urine-powder, which smells exactly as bad as you'd expect, and it did not deter the squirrels from eating my tulip bulbs.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    I find it funny that many are jumping to the rabies conclusion. What type of erratic behavior would lead people to think that? That it clawed through a little bit of mesh for some food that it could smell?
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    WhyFi wrote: I find it funny that many are jumping to the rabies conclusion. What type of erratic behavior would lead people to think that? That it clawed through a little bit of mesh for some food that it could smell?
    I think that attacking the other neighbors who were emptying trash is kind of erratic and attacking the guy on the deck. I mean growling and charging for no reason is weird--even for a city raccoon.

    Also I jumped to the rabies conclusion only because I have encountered a rabid raccoon in the past and it was weird like this one.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories