A rabid raccoon was caught last Friday in Boerum hill when officials noticed its strange interaction with a dog, Gothamist reports. The Department of Health is increasing raccoon surveillance in Brooklyn, looking out especially for animals that appear sick or dead.
Rabid raccoon found in Boerum Hill
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2 Responses to Rabid raccoon found in Boerum Hill
wow Raccoons in downtown Brooklyn? They are so cute, when I lived in CT, they used to come to my back yard with the whole family asking for the leftover cat food. OK, guys, I will not give them my leftover cat food here, will just show them the way to Prospect Park.
Raccoons have been ‘back’ in Brooklyn for years, now. There’s plenty from Park Slope to Kensington and can easily make their way through our neighborhoods. Clearly they have. Many people overreact to them, and believe they’re all rabid. Get ready for more & more anxiety from neighbors – which is a warranted fear, where overreaction is easily understood – because the fear of rabies, and closeness to pets, possibility of bites upon children playing, etc. is a factor of growing raccoon populations. I’ve heard from many people who blame the Parks Dept. for not culling numbers in Prospect Park, etc. – but, there’s just as many people (if not more) who feel that people should enjoy more nature and animals returning to ‘the wilds’ of Brooklyn.
Ultimately, at some point, people are going to have to get a bit more serious about closing lids on trash cans, more securely — at least make it a little tougher for these very smart ‘critters’ to figure out how to get a late-night meal. …But then, what will we do once the bears return?