raccoon BIG problem park slope

We have raccoons on our deck, in our yard. We saw two of them on our neighbor’s roof. We have heard scratching noises on the top floor of our brownstone. One of them bit and scratched our dog (vet gave her an additional rabies shot and antibiotics.) Any ideas of what to do or who to call?

lola

in Pest Control 12 years and 9 months ago

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psn | 12 years and 9 months ago

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I had one in my North Slope backyard last year. I did not realize the problem was so extensive. It is worth calling 311 to ask them to log the complaint, but they will tell you that you are responsible for animals on your property and to call an animal control company. It may also be worthwhile to contact the councilman’s office to see if they can get the city’s attention.

jack1152 | 12 years and 9 months ago

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Hopefully 311 can do something about it. Im very sorry about your dog.

lola | 12 years and 9 months ago

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4 story brownstone in north park slope, deck is off of the parlor floor. No garbage cans,  or food etc. They are everywhere, walking down the sidewalks at night. We will follow the recommendations of the website: http://www.urbanwildliferescue.org/humane/raccoons.htm Thank you for reminding me to call 311, one did bite and scratch my dog, who was on the stairs going down from the deck into the yard. The vet gave her an additional rabies shot, as she is up to date on all of her vaccinations, and treated her wounds with antibiotics.

melvinsmith532 | 12 years and 9 months ago

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Call animal control and see if they can suggest any ideas. Has this anyways been a problem…if not something new has been increasing the number of racoons…consider investigating the cause and eliminating it.

greenmountain | 12 years and 9 months ago

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Where is your deck: on your roof?  behind your house?  Urban critters, like their country cousins, are attracted by what we humans discard.  Raccoons climb up to roofs, because they can.  They may be looking for someplace dark and cool to sleep away their days, so they can spend their nights scavenging your garbage, or they may be just curious or playful.  Like a wilderness camper, you should not leave any food or food packaging out for them.  They are omnivorous, but especially like meat and nuts.  They will sniff your perfume, toothpaste, candles, even if they don’t eat it, they will be attracted to smells they associate with food.   Let not one drop of marinade or bbq sauce fall without immediately cleaning it up.  Even half a cornflake, spent candy wrapper, or bit of dog biscuit, too small to interest your dog, will be sniffed by your newest furry friends.  Clean your deck, your grill or take it inside, or don’t cook and eat outside.  Closing your garbage cans is not enough.  Do not leave garbage outside your house. I think the general animal control ideas these days are: “don’t kill wildlife if they are not causing a problem.”  I hope a pro in this forum answers; I am just a nature-boy at heart.  You may disagree, but your leaving food around may be regarded by authorities as your problem.  Poison is dangerous to people and other animals.  Shooting them is dangerous.  Leg-hold traps are dangerous to other animals, adults and especially children.  Have-a-hart traps are not easy, because racoons dine on the bait and let themselves out.  Even if you can keep them in the have-a-hart, where are you going to release them, Prospect Park?  They will come back.  Central Maine?

cupolacoffee | 12 years and 9 months ago

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NYC does not take the raccoon problem seriously, though you should file a 311 complaint anyway. Call a licensed WILDLIFE control company, not an ordinary exterminator.
Amusing video (maybe not to you): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oUWCvk4WOo
NYT article: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/after-bedbugs-here-come-the-raccoons/
Much older NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/03/nyregion/wildlife-out-of-control-enter-the-trapper.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

marie-helene | 12 years and 9 months ago

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You should call an exterminator (same companies you would call for termites or rats.)  I don’t have a specific recommendation for you.