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Packs of Raccoons Pestering Carroll Gardens, Pol Says

By Nikhita Venugopal | September 23, 2015 1:44pm
 A group of raccoons has become a cause of concern for Carroll Gardens residents, a local politician said.
A group of raccoons has become a cause of concern for Carroll Gardens residents, a local politician said.
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CARROLL GARDENS — Raccoons are causing a nuisance in the neighborhood, according to one politician who is seeking local information on the furry critters. 

Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon is asking residents to submit reports of raccoon incidents in the area after she learned that one Carroll Gardens block hosted "quite a concentration" of them, she said. 

There is an estimate of 20 to 30 creatures on the block bound by Hoyt, Bond, Second and Third streets, Simon told DNAinfo.

While most neighbors report sightings, some cases involved raccoons entering and damaging people's homes or leaving feces in their backyards.

"Raccoons can be very toxic," she said. "If they're pooping in your yard ... that's a real concern." 

Since Simon called for residents to talk about their "raccoon experience," which was also posted on Pardon Me For Asking, she has received dozens of reports from Carroll Gardens as well as in some pockets of Park Slope, where neighbors have spotted a family of raccoons on Berkeley Place.

"The people in Park Slope assume they come from the park," she said.

Simon has reached out to the city's Health Department to evaluate whether the population can be considered a nuisance in the area.

DOH officials confirmed they were working with Simon's office and plan to schedule a walkthrough of Carroll Gardens, a spokeswoman said.

While the DOH does not actively trap or control raccoon packs in neighborhoods, investigators can make recommendations based on their assessment. 

"My reason for reaching out to people was to maximize the Health Department's effectiveness," Simon said. "We're learning from people when they tell us these stories."

To contact Simon's office, email simonj@assembly.state.ny.us. More information on raccoons from the DOH can be found here.