Urban Raccoons

onewebfoot · #1 09-10-2011, 12:42 AM

These things are a trip. But until tonight, i'd never seen them travel in packs.

Just watched a 20 lb mother with FIVE smaller cohorts (roughly 10 lbs each) cruising past my window. On the bike trail outside.

Thing is, i've seen this mother before. 2 months ago, I rode up to her on my bike at dusk, she hustled over to an iron fence, just through the bars, then turned, stood on her haunches at me, and said "BRING IT!!"

If I rode up to this pack after dark, i think i'd just drop my bike and back off....

aborgman · #2 09-10-2011, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewebfoot

These things are a trip. But until tonight, i'd never seen them travel in packs.

Just watched a 20 lb mother with FIVE smaller cohorts (roughly 10 lbs each) cruising past my window. On the bike trail outside.

Thing is, i've seen this mother before. 2 months ago, I rode up to her on my bike at dusk, she hustled over to an iron fence, just through the bars, then turned, stood on her haunches at me, and said "BRING IT!!"

If I rode up to this pack after dark, i think i'd just drop my bike and back off....

I've known folks who had pets killed (cats and small dogs) by packs of urban raccoons.

They generally human food habituated and not scared of people - and that is not a good combination.

HaRd · #3 09-10-2011, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aborgman

I've known folks who had pets killed (cats and small dogs) by packs of urban raccoons.

They generally human food habituated and not scared of people - and that is not a good combination.

Nevermind rabies... yeah I usually see them traveling either alone or in packs. During the day I only usually see them going down into the sewers though (I wonder whats down there)

Bongolation · #4 09-10-2011, 06:38 AM

They had them in San Francisco, right out on the streets at night going through garbage, not afraid of anything.

aborgman · #5 09-10-2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

They had them in San Francisco, right out on the streets at night going through garbage, not afraid of anything.

We have some here in Ann Arbor that you'll see right out on the city streets going through garbage cans - in the middle of the day.

Jhengsman · #6 09-10-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaRd

Nevermind rabies... yeah I usually see them traveling either alone or in packs. During the day I only usually see them going down into the sewers though (I wonder whats down there)

Well there are not any gators down there and they are protected from their enemy, the automobile.

hover · #7 09-10-2011, 08:30 AM

welp, there's really only one way to deal with them, and it ISN'T trapping and relocating.

Papa Dangerous · #8 09-10-2011, 08:38 AM

There is this park in the Bronx, it is huge. The biggest park in NYC. During the summer, the park becomes a giant picnic/bbq area. Lets just say these people bring A LOT! The garbage cans become over flowed, and many people bring their own black bags to throw out their garbage.

Well this one day, my friends' and I were drinking a beer after dark in the park when a family of skunks roll up upon these black backs 5 feet in front of us. 3 or 4 of them patrol the parameters, two others dig into the bags. As this is going on, a raccoon skulks by and realizes he is outnumbered. He walks away but then comes back when some of the skunks are not as close.

By this time, the skunk found his way into the bag, and was rummaging. Raccoon gets close to the bag with the skunk inside... We sat there watching this epic show of urban nature take its course. The raccoon got scared off and the skunk won, but was still stuck in the bag.

Other times I have had skunk walk up to me as I was doing a bit of focusing/meditation on the park bench. He sniffed my shoe and was just chilling with me. Leave it to my friend to start running at me (the ladies love me at the most inopportune times). I let out a quick "STOP!" She keeps running and I have to book it from the bench as quick as possible before the skunk sprayed. I laughed and yelled at her jokingly afterwards.

I have also had a raccoon hang out with me. He jumped into a garbage can as I was at another bench one night. I was down and appreciated the company. I wish I had some food to give him because he did not find any in that can.

Animals are awesome and have this great sense within them. I have noticed they frequently pick up on energy from people.

Papa Dangerous · #9 09-10-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aborgman

We have some here in Ann Arbor that you'll see right out on the city streets going through garbage cans - in the middle of the day.

Be careful of raccoons during the day. They are nocturnal creatures, and if they are out in the day looking for food they may be rabid.

MN_Bass · #10 09-10-2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Dangerous

Be careful of raccoons during the day. They are nocturnal creatures, and if they are out in the day looking for food they may be rabid.

Sounds like me

fhm555 · #11 09-10-2011, 04:11 PM

Many a fine hound has met their demise at the hands of a big old bandit sow. She will lead them into water then climb on their head and drown them.

fmoore200 · #12 09-10-2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Dangerous

There is this park in the Bronx, it is huge. The biggest park in NYC. During the summer, the park becomes a giant picnic/bbq area. Lets just say these people bring A LOT! The garbage cans become over flowed, and many people bring their own black bags to throw out their garbage.

Well this one day, my friends' and I were drinking a beer after dark in the park when a family of skunks roll up upon these black backs 5 feet in front of us. 3 or 4 of them patrol the parameters, two others dig into the bags. As this is going on, a raccoon skulks by and realizes he is outnumbered. He walks away but then comes back when some of the skunks are not as close.

By this time, the skunk found his way into the bag, and was rummaging. Raccoon gets close to the bag with the skunk inside... We sat there watching this epic show of urban nature take its course. The raccoon got scared off and the skunk won, but was still stuck in the bag.

Other times I have had skunk walk up to me as I was doing a bit of focusing/meditation on the park bench. He sniffed my shoe and was just chilling with me. Leave it to my friend to start running at me (the ladies love me at the most inopportune times). I let out a quick "STOP!" She keeps running and I have to book it from the bench as quick as possible before the skunk sprayed. I laughed and yelled at her jokingly afterwards.

I have also had a raccoon hang out with me. He jumped into a garbage can as I was at another bench one night. I was down and appreciated the company. I wish I had some food to give him because he did not find any in that can.

Animals are awesome and have this great sense within them. I have noticed they frequently pick up on energy from people.

Van courtland? Or pelham bay?

MakiSupaStar · #13 09-10-2011, 06:59 PM

You don't want to go near urban gerbils either. You don't know where they've been.

Papa Dangerous · #14 09-11-2011, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmoore200

Van courtland? Or pelham bay?

Pelham Bay. Van Cortland is pretty big from what I seen, but I never really traveled it into the woods and such like PB park. I take it your familiar with the area lol

HaRd · #15 09-11-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

welp, there's really only one way to deal with them, and it ISN'T trapping and relocating.

I honestly don't see them as a problem and I probably see them everyday or every other day. As long as they don't try rummaging through my garbage cans then I just let it be. If you have your garbage secure they don't usually go after them. It's usually the garbage cans left wide open that's basically saying free food to any wildlife in general.

Like I've never actually see a pack of Raccoons go after a human in my life... I live in NY.