Raccoon--first sighting

First raccoon sighting in 20-plus years on this block. In the backyards between Sterling & St Johns/Sixth & Seventh. Just after dark last night. Up one fire escape, across a few roofs and down another. Full grown, a little bit bashful (not aggressive), surprisingly noisy. Neighbors, you might want to get some heavy duty screens if your windows overlook a fire escape.

They're crawling out of the woodwork closer to the park. Gives the cats something to check out besides pigeons.

I was awakened by one in my backyard on 8th St. at 5am last Thursday morning. He was clinking beer bottles and lapping up the beer in a recycle bag and gnawing on a stale hotdog bun left over from my last bbq. Apparently he bore a hole in a the trash bag. A black squirrel and two feral cats flanked the fence watching over him. It was a scene from a zoo! Then he knocked over an empty planter to get the water out of it before my window tapping finally scared him off. First raccoon sighting in living here almost 16 years!

Raccoons are extremely rare in these parts. I recommend you stay away from them because they are known to carry rabies. Alert animal control so they can put it down.

Actually, they're all over PS and other neighborhoods adjoining Prospect Park.

Animal control won't get involved unless the particular animal is behaving as if rabid.

I would advise everyone to stay away from raccoons because if one is bitten by a rabies contaminated raccoon then the subsequent shots will scar you for life. Raccoons are not friendly animals like cats. They have been know to break into peoples homes in order to scavenge and they also have attacked humans. I will never understand why the city allows these animals to reside in the parks. They pose a danger to our children.

Whether or not a raccoon is rabid, it is a good idea to stay away. Nearly all raccoons carry roundworms, which can be passed on to humans.

Keep your distance, and clean very, very thoroughly if one gets into your apartment.

A friend of mine told me that raccoons are not a protected species in NYC so if they enter you home all bets are off. Best way to deal with an invading raccoon is with a blunt object. Aim for the cranium with a bat or golf club. If you have a flashlight daze it with the beam and then strike. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to animals invading your home and I have heard a few stories from neighbors who live near Prospect park. Although I have never had a raccoon enter my home I do have a golf club by my bed just in case.

Hi, I live by Prospect park and I think I had a furry intrude in my home. The window screen in the bathroom window was pushed in and the bag of cat food was ripped apart. How do I make sure my home is not contaminated with rabbies?

Rabies is spread by infected saliva that enters the body through a bite or broken skin. The virus travels from the wound to the brain, where it causes swelling, or inflammation.

So long as the animal is gone, you have little to fear, although I'd sweep the house to make sure there are no droppings and the animal is gone. However if your cat(s) survived the encounter, don't think there is much in the way of risk to you. Close your windows when you leave your home.

I cleaned the area of possible contamination as best I could. I need not worry about pet cross contamination at this juncture especially since my cat "Scrumbles" passed away a week ago. He took ill after a visit to the park and succumbed to his illness a few days later. The vet basically told me he might have inadvertently ingested rat poison. I miss him so but my primary worry now is the area I set aside for him. I want it germ free for the new arrival I am adopting in the coming week.

First I am so sorry for your loss Lillith

But I am curious - you took your cat to Prospect Park? Was it by leash?

Also if you are looking to adopt a new cat please, please check with caseopele (who is a poster here). She is a local rescuer who has quite a few cats/kittens up to adoption.

"Scrumbles" was a wonderful cat. I never met a cat that did not mind a leash. I would bring him to the park in his box and then hook the leash onto his collar and he would lead me around all the bushes and trees. "Scrumbles" loved the park and I usually walked him away from the rest of the pet owners. I blame the sanitation department for not posting any signs about rat poison. I am actually looking into litigation at this stage. "Scrumbles" will be sorely missed.

Thank you for the recommendation for adoption but I have already made arrangements and my new cat comes home in about a week. I can't wait to play with him/her.

I hear cats like water as well.

"Scrumbles" had a natural fear of water. In that respect he was normal.

You have had a rough week.

First you walk your cat on leash in the park. ?

Then it might have injected rat poison ?

Then a raccoon invades your house ?

Then your cat dies. ?

Then you have to wait weeks to get a new cat?

Then you sign up for Brooklynian again?

...brutal

I still do not understand how cats not liking baths or water has anything to do with "Convenience".

You have had a rough week,

First you walk your cat on leash in the park. ?

Then it might have injected rat poison ?

Then a raccoon invades your house ?

Then your cat dies. ?

Then you have to wait weeks to get a new cat?

Then you discover Brooklynian under a new name?

...brutal

And while we are at it why does it feel like you are mocking me. Does this have anything to do with me being a cat lover and you being a dog lover? If this is the case I assure you I meant no offense to the canine owners of this forum.

LillithofArc said:

I still do not understand how cats not liking baths or water has anything to do with "Convenience".

me either. You should explain.

I have never stated I dislike cats.

Hating cats would as silly as airborne rabies, or thinking your house was infected by rabies.

silly, lovable cats

Whynot, you are a trying to tug at my emotional strings and I will not play your games. You should be ashamed for mocking my loss.

Lillith, I don't know what WhyNot is or isn't doing, but some of us genuinely sympathize with your loss, and hope your new pet will love you and entertain you as much as Scrumbles did.

Thank you, Booklaw.

Booklaw-

I totally agree; losing a cat is very sad. Everyone loves cats and their owners.

Lillith, I don't know what WhyNot is or isn't doing, but some of us genuinely sympathize with your loss, and hope your new pet will love you and entertain you as much as Scrumbles did.

I thought we were talking about "Scrumbles".

We were. Then we got mugged.

And rabies.

And rat poison

And bleeding hearts

....any moment we will get strollers.

Until then, we have a deceased cat with a big head we must mourn and someone who likes to create new accounts.

But who once again is caged

If you see a racoon at night going through garbage, chances are its NOT rabid. When you see one in the daytime, you should call animal control or 311. Also Pyrric Victory appears to be an animal-hating sociopath of sorts and I'm fairly certain that a citizen spreading poison around a city owned property without consent of the city is illegal. Don't hesitate to call the police if you see him spreading rat poison around (see his post in re: pigeon murder).

Svanso223, you are 100% correct and God willing he will get his comeuppance.

yes, bang the drum.

Try to make more people believe that the pidgin poisoning character you have created is dastardly and real.

yawn.

the inspiration for this perhaps?

I have tried ignoring this "peon" but obviously he has it in for me. Perhaps he secretly hates cats or maybe hates women. I can not fathom why a person who knows nothing about me is intent on bad mouthing me and my deceased cat. Is this how he gets his jollies? Is this the only manner in which he knows how to socialize with others? Judging by his comment count I can surmise that he has no semblance of a life and that this forum is all that he has and knows. I have no choice now but to ask the admin to step in and ask this low life to stop harassing me. I do not appreciate the snide remarks or the dastardly messages left with your other accounts. PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE!

This is your last warning, Whynot_31, before I go to the next step and file harassment charges against you.

I love silly cats. I out them so everyone can see.

When cats die I feel sad.