This one smells about right…
And it looks even better than it smells!
Just gotta get my paws on that sandwich…
No guts, no glory!
Thanks to Simon Connolly for the photos, which he took at the Central Park West entrance at 90th street. He said the raccoon looked like it was nursing babies (engorged teats) and that’s why it may have been looking for food in the daytime. Hopefully not rabies, of course.
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A park ranger told me that daytime activity is NOT a sign of rabies, at least for NYC racoons. The thing to look for is if they look “drunk” and off-balance when walking.
We saw one Thursday around 8:00 pm in playground near 97th Street. It was dark, but it did not look as healthy as this one… Kind of scrawny.
I see raccoons going in and out of the Central Park trash bins on West Drive near 77th St. all the time — day and night! It’s always startling to see a big furry head and body emerging from the open top of a trash bin.
It was a mistake to replace the old covered trash containers with these open-topped bins– They’re an open invitation to dumpster-diving raccoons and other scavengers, not to mention rats. Such open bins are OK for recyclables (bottles, magazines, newspapers, etc.), but not for garbage!
Except of course, no-one pays attention to what is a recycling bin and what is trash, so an open-top “recycling bin” is just as bad.
We may need to install the type of trash bins that are found in national parks, that are more like mailboxes, so animals can’t get into them.
Paul, I saw those pull-down trash bins on the Southwest corners of 8th Avenue at both 52nd and 53rd St. They’re in sets of three and appear to be subsidized by wrap-around ads.
Obviously, Central Park would not be able to subsidize them that way.
Does the city not do any research before spending huge amounts of money? Who is in charge of making these ridiculous changes? These bins are also dangerous to the animal.
Lauren, what kind of bin would meet all criteria?
Who would want to touch the handle of the pull-down bins mentioned above after greasy hands had disposed of their leftovers in it?
I’m sorry, but raccoons are dangerous animals that don’t belong in the park. I was walking my dog last summer just around 90th street and a mother raccoon had 3 babies walking along the path. We’re not merely talking rabies, but attacks on small dogs, children by feral animals. If the ASPCA and animal control can catch and kill dogs that are in fact simply throwaways by people too irresponsible to care for them (and not dangerous) then why aren’t they disposing of these masked threats?
You *are* joking…right?
I’m just going to assume that you’re joking.
“They don’t belong in the park” ? Did you just seriously say that? They were here first! They are gods creatures and deserve some respect. If they are mean or rabid it’s because we encroached on THEIR environment.
Nice to see the varmints! And no longer in danger from motorists!
They’re mean critters! Especially when protecting their young or scavenging for food. They’re esp aggressive in Riverside Park where the trash bins are open and easy for them to climb into/knock over. Give them a wide berth if you encounter them.
Raccoons can live in cities,forests and across America and be careful raccoons may have rabies or they could bite.
Hi all. I saw a raccoon running back and forth across West End Ave. at 70th Street at about 5:00 one morning recently. I must say it was a strange experience. It climbed a tree next to the bus shelter and that’s the last I saw of it. I agree that maybe we shouldn’t have raccoons wandering the neighborhood.
I’ve actually heard people say they wish there were no animals in the world. Are some of you headed to this thought? Very out of balance idea. They go…we go too.
The Central Park Conservancy has enough of a budget for more frequent collections. People are so used to having someone clean up after them. A mandatory carry out regulation should also be implemented and enforced.
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