The raccoon has returned.
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The raccoon has returned. #picaTheCat was displeased. I'd been putting off putting a motion sensing light in the roof garden, but I'm not putting it off anymore.
I live seven floors up in NYC this is not what I'd expect. But, they can climb from a tree to the fire escape.
I do not trust this raccoon any more than Pica does.
@futurebird I used to have raccoons on the fire escape and my cats were also unhappy about it. The raccoon might have given them fleas (but there was also a squirrel that took up residence on my balcony at the time and I visited a dodgy pet store so maybe not).
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@futurebird Gasp!
ONe of the very basic stories in Reading Plus is about animals in cities... I think it mentions raccoons....
Raccoons can also be rabid. I worked an apartment pool where tenants "adopted" a wild one and had a wild party and all over the Baltimore news was: if you'd been to that party and shared beer with the raccoon, please go and get your shots.@geonz @futurebird this made me wonder if there should be a government program for vaccinating & tagging raccoons...
...and it turns out at least half of that is already being done, and that's pretty cool!
https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/press/pr2025/nyc-vaccinating-raccoons-rabies-bk-qn-mn-2025.page(it doesn't mention implementation in the Bronx; hopefully that won't be too far in the future.)
tagging (maybe with RFID tags?) might help by enabling individualized vaccine records, collection of data on movement patters/habits, etc.
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@geonz @futurebird this made me wonder if there should be a government program for vaccinating & tagging raccoons...
...and it turns out at least half of that is already being done, and that's pretty cool!
https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/press/pr2025/nyc-vaccinating-raccoons-rabies-bk-qn-mn-2025.page(it doesn't mention implementation in the Bronx; hopefully that won't be too far in the future.)
tagging (maybe with RFID tags?) might help by enabling individualized vaccine records, collection of data on movement patters/habits, etc.
I think I will email them my photos of the visitor.
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The raccoon has returned. #picaTheCat was displeased. I'd been putting off putting a motion sensing light in the roof garden, but I'm not putting it off anymore.
I live seven floors up in NYC this is not what I'd expect. But, they can climb from a tree to the fire escape.
I do not trust this raccoon any more than Pica does.
@futurebird I object to the distress of our Dear Leader Pica!
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The raccoon has returned. #picaTheCat was displeased. I'd been putting off putting a motion sensing light in the roof garden, but I'm not putting it off anymore.
I live seven floors up in NYC this is not what I'd expect. But, they can climb from a tree to the fire escape.
I do not trust this raccoon any more than Pica does.
@futurebird i love that you have racoons up in the Bronx. y’all doing something right with all those community re-greening projects.
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The raccoon has returned. #picaTheCat was displeased. I'd been putting off putting a motion sensing light in the roof garden, but I'm not putting it off anymore.
I live seven floors up in NYC this is not what I'd expect. But, they can climb from a tree to the fire escape.
I do not trust this raccoon any more than Pica does.
Looks like a half grown one. Probably this years litter exploring his universe. If it doesn't find food will likely go elsewhere. I've fostered a few. They eventually wander off when they grow up. Pretty harmless unless you try to handle them.
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Looks like a half grown one. Probably this years litter exploring his universe. If it doesn't find food will likely go elsewhere. I've fostered a few. They eventually wander off when they grow up. Pretty harmless unless you try to handle them.
This is the second time he/she has shown up earlier the summer I would have described it as very young. I kind of think it's the same one.
I also think this one dug up our garden, but didn't find much to eat. It did stop to drink water from the bird bath before leaving.
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@geonz @futurebird this made me wonder if there should be a government program for vaccinating & tagging raccoons...
...and it turns out at least half of that is already being done, and that's pretty cool!
https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/press/pr2025/nyc-vaccinating-raccoons-rabies-bk-qn-mn-2025.page(it doesn't mention implementation in the Bronx; hopefully that won't be too far in the future.)
tagging (maybe with RFID tags?) might help by enabling individualized vaccine records, collection of data on movement patters/habits, etc.
@JamesWidman @geonz @futurebird
That racoon is unlikely rabid. Too curious. Rabid animals kinda look like they're on crack. Its more common for coons to have dog distemper. Behavior also is drunk and uncoordinated, people think it's rabies. Both are terminal.
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This is the second time he/she has shown up earlier the summer I would have described it as very young. I kind of think it's the same one.
I also think this one dug up our garden, but didn't find much to eat. It did stop to drink water from the bird bath before leaving.
Here is the first encounter. The raccoon has grown a lot!
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Here is the first encounter. The raccoon has grown a lot!
Why are they so cute?
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I have never seen her so angry.
She has perhaps met something whose cuteness can compete and it's battle mode. That pic of the little racoon in the other thread is adorable.
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Why are they so cute?
Not sure, but they sure are. Not so cute when they grow up. Its a baby thing, maybe the adults are less likely to attack them.
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Here is the first encounter. The raccoon has grown a lot!
@futurebird @oldoldcojote
That’s the Muppetiest raccoon picture ever. Muppets are jealous of the Muppeting. -
This is the second time he/she has shown up earlier the summer I would have described it as very young. I kind of think it's the same one.
I also think this one dug up our garden, but didn't find much to eat. It did stop to drink water from the bird bath before leaving.
Sounds like it may have lost its mom. They stay with her the first summer and often hibernate with her. She teaches them how to forage. I have to take mine for walks so the can discover what's edible and learn to d for insects in the creek bed. City raccoons must get an interesting curriculum.
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Why are they so cute?
@futurebird
Somebody posted a story about raccoons evolving more cuteness in urban environments. I can see how that would select for better rations. -
@futurebird
Somebody posted a story about raccoons evolving more cuteness in urban environments. I can see how that would select for better rations.@USelaine @futurebird LOL motion sensor light won't discourage them, btw... they do not care.
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Here is the first encounter. The raccoon has grown a lot!
The best thing about them is their soft little hands. They handle everything like they want to memorize its shape. The are super good at undoing latches, doorknobs, and locks.
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The raccoon has returned. #picaTheCat was displeased. I'd been putting off putting a motion sensing light in the roof garden, but I'm not putting it off anymore.
I live seven floors up in NYC this is not what I'd expect. But, they can climb from a tree to the fire escape.
I do not trust this raccoon any more than Pica does.
@futurebird so you cannot leave windows open in the 7th floor?!
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The raccoon has returned. #picaTheCat was displeased. I'd been putting off putting a motion sensing light in the roof garden, but I'm not putting it off anymore.
I live seven floors up in NYC this is not what I'd expect. But, they can climb from a tree to the fire escape.
I do not trust this raccoon any more than Pica does.
Racoons were the bane of our existence, or at least the ability of our garbage cans to remain upright until collection day.
It didn't matter what we did to keep those damn varmits from disgorging the cans contents all over the surrounding area. Locking handles, throwing hot water at them, you name it.
Our house backed up to South Mountain Reservation, due west of Southern Manhattan. Apparently our garbage was a lot less work than other food options in the 2112 acre nature reserve... -
The raccoon has returned. #picaTheCat was displeased. I'd been putting off putting a motion sensing light in the roof garden, but I'm not putting it off anymore.
I live seven floors up in NYC this is not what I'd expect. But, they can climb from a tree to the fire escape.
I do not trust this raccoon any more than Pica does.
@futurebird Our cat Nyx is a feral that we took in. Once when she was still living outside, my wife saw her face down and chase away a raccoon that outweighed her by a factor of 3. From what I've seen of cats, it was a wise decision on the raccoon's part.
Still, even if the betting odds favor Pica, you're right to take pains to prevent that encounter from ever happening. And the reasons are not limited to straightforward battle damage. Raccoons are filthy animals, and the majority of them harbor a terrifying parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm. You do not want these beasts or their worms around you or your pets.
If the motion-sensor light isn't enough to deter raccoons, I recommend doing whatever you need to do in order to accomplish the desired result.
