Raccoon ate my window!

kosherdave

Last night I came home to my cat sitting on my bed, staring out the window. I thought I saw his reflection and that it was what he was staring at, then I realized it was a HUGE raccoon staring into my apt and I noticed my cat was actually growling at it. It had chewed through the screen of my window and tried to get in. The window was open about 3 inches.

Anyway, the thing was NOT scared of me. I tried to shoo it away and I closed the window, but for the next few hours it sat there and my other cat came to see it and they tried to smell each other thru the window. It actually seemed like it wanted to come in to be with the cats. Or maybe eat them.

I took a few pics and it was not even afraid of the flash.

So, I called 311 who put me thru to 911. The cops took around an hour and a half to show up, and in that time I called back a few more times because the creature was continuing to eat its way into my bedroom. They showed up with some mace admitting they had no idea what they were doing, and that the stuff often did not stop dogs and they never tried it on a raccoon. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

When the cops arrived, it was gone, of course. I had to sleep with a lamp on, shining out the window, which was annoying.

Anyone else have problems like this? What did you do? The cops said that if it came back we could call animal control, which is what the 311 people SAID they were arranging for.

christinafrombklyn

Hi Dave,

That certainly sounds like an odd occurrence. I wonder if he/she is rabid?...

scarlett

Oh yes. When I lived on 20th and 7th we frequently had Rocky in the backyard. To this day when I go outside at night there, I make a big noise and turn the light on, but I don't think he ever cared. Sometimes he would go to the other end of the yard.

Ya gotta be careful because they are mean and nasty animals. Do not let your kitties near them. Shut your window. Lock you doors!

voodoonyc

Last year I had two GIANT raccoons that were camped out on my deck (and I live on the second floor!). I waited a couple days, but they didn't leave. I finally called my landlord who put me in touch with an exterminator who set humane traps for them. They were both trapped that night (with cat food no less) and the exterminator came and picked them up and released them in a non-residential area. But yeah, they really entertained my two kitties for a couple of days.

yankeefan

there's lots of racoons in prospect park. have been for as far back as i can remember. i often see them running around the streets atnight, hiding under cars. i hear stories about people finding them in their backyard. i've also seen rabits and possums in the park too

never heard about racoons eating windows though. not sure what to tell you

press195

"non-residential area" = they went to "the farm" so they could run around and play

moonage

and, KD, let's see those pictures!

If that was Stella Maria, she would have gone right after him. I hope that never happens in my yard!

opossumqueen

They usually want to avoid people. A raccoon that is out during the day, quickly approaches people, or stumbles around may very well be rabid (I know this from multiple experiences with rabid raccoons, unfortunately).

Maybe try calling the ACC (Animal Care and Control) if you see it again and it's still acting odd. I think the city tracks these things. Or maybe the ASPCA would respond or suggest who to call. The city should be interested in potentially rabid animals since they want to monitor and control the disease. I don't imagine cops would have the proper equipment or knowledge to handle that.

yankeefan

OpossumQueen wrote: try calling the ACC (Animal Care and Control) if you see it again and it's still acting odd. .

i just googled them heres their site
http://www.nycacc.org/

armchair_warrior

should of put cap it's ass for eating your windows.:P


just a unbelievable story . holy smokes, i of would think they would be afraid of you or the cats. good thing those things haven't evolved to open windows yet. they already got those burglar mask evolved:p.

joseph11

Subject: Re: Raccoon ate my window!

kosherdave wrote: Last night I came home to my cat sitting on my bed, staring out the window. I thought I saw his reflection and that it was what he was staring at, then I realized it was a HUGE raccoon staring into my apt and I noticed my cat was actually growling at it. It had chewed through the screen of my window and tried to get in. The window was open about 3 inches.

Anyway, the thing was NOT scared of me. I tried to shoo it away and I closed the window, but for the next few hours it sat there and my other cat came to see it and they tried to smell each other thru the window. It actually seemed like it wanted to come in to be with the cats. Or maybe eat them.

I took a few pics and it was not even afraid of the flash.

So, I called 311 who put me thru to 911. The cops took around an hour and a half to show up, and in that time I called back a few more times because the creature was continuing to eat its way into my bedroom. They showed up with some mace admitting they had no idea what they were doing, and that the stuff often did not stop dogs and they never tried it on a raccoon. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

When the cops arrived, it was gone, of course. I had to sleep with a lamp on, shining out the window, which was annoying.

Anyone else have problems like this? What did you do? The cops said that if it came back we could call animal control, which is what the 311 people SAID they were arranging for.

Did you really call the police. Don't you think they have better things to do. WOW I just can't believed that you would waste the time of a new york city police officer like that. WOW

anastasia beaverhausen

He called 311 WHO PUT HIM THRU TO 911.

peanuts

Wow...glad it didn't hurt your kitty - that had to be scary
I also suggest Animal Care or ASPCA - they'll make sure that whoever traps it does it the right way ... on Animal Precinct they showed a trapper who didn't check the traps daily and the raccoons died.

kosherdave

Read the post. I asked 311 to put me thru to animal control. Which they said they did. They then said 911 was taking care of it. And since the thing was eating INTO my apartment, yeah, I felt they had nothing better to do that protect and serve.

Also, I appologized to one of the guys for making him come out for it and he ACTUALLY SAID they weren't doing anything else. So, it's not that I THINK they had nothing better to do... they DIDN'T.
WOW.

mpmav1

Subject: Re: Raccoon ate my window!

kosherdave wrote: I took a few pics and it was not even afraid of the flash

Post! I'd love to see the pics.

flaco

what the hell is it with this 'don't bother the police' crap??!! That is what they are there for, Joseph (who is probably long since vanished to troll another thread with his words of wisdom)...and read your papers (even within the last week)...let's not hold them up as nothing but heroes and saviors. many are, but...and like my man said, the frickin thing was EATING THROUGH HIS WINDOW! and just what would you have done??

bkchickie

Subject: Re: Raccoon ate my window!

I'm betting that it was rabid.

I haven't had that experience with a raccoon, but I have had something similar with a squirrel. Scary little bugger, too! It was very aggressive. Finally decided then and there that the birdfeeders had to come down for good.

stacey

flaco wrote: the frickin thing was EATING THROUGH HIS WINDOW! and just what would you have done??

This!
http://www.backwoodsbound.com/zracoon1.html

carmen

Subject: Re: Raccoon ate my window!

BKChickie wrote: I'm betting that it was rabid.

I haven't had that experience with a raccoon, but I have had something similar with a squirrel. Scary little bugger, too! It was very aggressive. Finally decided then and there that the birdfeeders had to come down for good.

Yep, be careful with all dem rabies. We had a big problem where I used to live- people being attacked and bitten by chipmunks and all sorts of things! Make sure you leave your windows closed...raccoons are really good with their "hands" and can get into almost anything but are probably not strong enough to open a window!

rob515

I keep reading the title and thinking

The dingo ate my bay-bee!

raw

Angry raccoons have been known to chase humans. Think of raccoons as stout alligators covered with fur.

Buy a Gorilla Security Alarm, several fat pumpkins, and a heavy baseball bat. Set the alarm on your window and practice smashing the pumpkins until you hear the alarm go off, announcing the beast's arrival. Then you can swing at the real thing, but DON'T MISS.

carmen

raw wrote: Angry raccoons have been known to chase humans. Think of raccoons as stout alligators covered with fur.

Buy a Gorilla Security Alarm, several fat pumpkins, and a heavy baseball bat. Set the alarm on your window and practice smashing the pumpkins until you hear the alarm go off, announcing the beast's arrival. Then you can swing at the real thing, but DON'T MISS.

lol

modsquad

I don't think there has been a case of rabies in Brooklyn in the past 100 years. I think they found a rabid fox up in the northern Bronx a few years back.
Kosher Dave if you were wearing those sunglasses, maybe he though you were his Pappy Raccoon! :P

veets

I have afriend who lives on 13th street and has huge sliding glass doors on the lowest level of the house. Last year at about this time we were sitting at the diningroom table having a nioce dinner and heard some noise. We looked up and this raccoon was hanging upside down looking in at us through the sliding doors. Dinner must have looked good to him. We didn't move, probably because we were all in schock and he just stared at us. When we finally got up from the table and approached this solid glass divider between us and he... he did not budge. After a while he righted himself and moved on. Very freaky!

I certainly understand why Dave did call 311. We were about to do the same thing. Even if they are not rabid they certainly are presumptuous. In PS I think we are just so politically correct in some ways that even the creatures can take advantage of our live and let live attitude.

brooklynpotter

VoodooNYC wrote: Last year I had two GIANT raccoons that were camped out on my deck (and I live on the second floor!). I waited a couple days, but they didn't leave. I finally called my landlord who put me in touch with an exterminator who set humane traps for them. They were both trapped that night (with cat food no less) and the exterminator came and picked them up and released them in a non-residential area. But yeah, they really entertained my two kitties for a couple of days.

voodoo, i'm sorry to tell you but in NYC any raccoon that is caught has to be euthanized. it's the law. so, what flexi said.

i wish they weren't so dangerous because they're such beautiful creatures.

obamanut

Raccoons, tornados, 7-11?

Gee, Brooklyn is starting to feel kind of like...

modsquad

veets wrote: We looked up and this raccoon was hanging upside down looking in at us through the sliding doors. Dinner must have looked good to him.

Open at your own risk.
http://modblog.bmezine.com/wp-content/uploads/200701081408-pix2.jpg

voodoonyc

brooklynpotter wrote: voodoo, i'm sorry to tell you but in NYC any raccoon that is caught has to be euthanized. it's the law. so, what flexi said.

i wish they weren't so dangerous because they're such beautiful creatures.

Honestly I didn't know that but I really had no choice. I mean they were literally living (and I fear breeding) on my deck. They are an animal and everyone on here knows how much I love animals, but I'm inclined to agree with veets who said:

veets wrote: In PS I think we are just so politically correct in some ways that even the creatures can take advantage of our live and let live attitude.

They are raccoons for crying out loud. Garbage destroying, kittie eating pests. And a real good roadkill dinner down south.

Oh, and Obamanut. Raccoons have historically lived in this area for about 100 years before you were born. Nice try though.

veets

brooklynpotter wrote: [quote=VoodooNYC]Last year I had two GIANT raccoons that were camped out on my deck (and I live on the second floor!). I waited a couple days, but they didn't leave. I finally called my landlord who put me in touch with an exterminator who set humane traps for them. They were both trapped that night (with cat food no less) and the exterminator came and picked them up and released them in a non-residential area. But yeah, they really entertained my two kitties for a couple of days.

voodoo, i'm sorry to tell you but in NYC any raccoon that is caught has to be euthanized. it's the law. so, what flexi said.

i wish they weren't so dangerous because they're such beautiful creatures.

Yup they are beautiful creatures in the wild but Brooklyn is not the wild.

I grew up here and when I lived in mom's house, on the other side of the park, going back to 1960's they were sighted in that backyard .

filmlover44

I don't know about raccoons but I know that if you play a radio around skunks, they will leave. I actually tested this once and it worked.

eggcream

filmlover44 wrote: I don't know about raccoons but I know that if you play a radio around skunks, they will leave. I actually tested this once and it worked.

Barry Manilow.