Raccoon Sighting on Hicks Street

By on August 25, 2008 8:01 am in Brooklyn Heights

From the BHB Inbox comes this breaking news item from “MP”:

I’m having dinner this evening al fresco at Tutt Café, and there’s a huge cat crossing the street. But it’s not a cat, it’s clearly a raccoon walking on the west side of Hicks Street, crossing Middagh and heading downhill towards Poplar.  I got a good look at it.  Stripe across the eyes, stripes on the tail, walking like a raccoon.

I made a 311 call and they told me that raccoon sightings in NYC are common and they don’t take reports unless the animal appears to be rabid.  This raccoon seemed to be calmly walking down the sidewalk.

First time in over 40 years living in Bklyn that I saw a raccoon, though I’ve heard there’s a bunch in Prospect Park.  Thought I’d report it to the blog so hood denizens could be on the lookout at night and so they or their domestic pets won’t get into any trouble.  It’s advised to stay away from a raccoon.  They have sharp teeth and claws and could do a number on a dog, or even a person, though this raccoon seemed peaceful.

Raccoons are no stranger to Brooklyn.  The Brooklyn Paper has reported extensively on these “cute” animals over the years including a 2006 report that tells us where they end up after they’ve been caught.  Hint: Don’t go to Queens, Staten Island or the Bronx if you’re a raccoon.

And now, a collection of YouTube videos featuring Brooklyn Raccoons:

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  • Bee Heights

    Saw the coon the other night while looking for a parking spot. Northern Heights.

  • nabeguy

    So are racoons the ones that are tearing up my garbage? Considering the number of rats in the North end that they must compete with, we could be looking at a real steel-cage smackdown any day.

  • AEB

    An addition to the neighborhood, IM not so H O.

  • DW

    Raccoons have always been popular in Brooklyn.
    In fact during the early 1950s a club called The Loyal Order of Raccoons was founded in Bushwick near Chauncey St. [some say Bensonhurst] … its members included a bus driver that plied the route of Manhattan’s Madison Avenue for the Gotham Bus Co., and an underground specialist for what is now the DEP.
    Around the mid-1950’s there were filmed records made of some of the meetings, including a famous costume party won by that aforementioned sewer worker.
    Sadly, the Raccoons moved to Miami Beach in the late 1960’s in search of golf and color television.

  • my2cents

    Raccoons never cease to amaze me at how something so cute can be so nasty!

  • nabeguy

    golf, color television and…poloponies.

  • Monty

    Between the fire and the remodel there were raccoons (among other things) at 133 Joralemon. Some folks called 311 and got the same reply. Raccoons are only dangerous if you see them out during the daytime. That means they are likely to be rabid.

  • AEB

    DW, I believe I know the name of the bus driver you mention, above.

    Ralph…Ralph…Kramden?

    Please confirm.

  • Meisee

    I saw the racoon last night around 11:30pm on Poplar Street as I was walking my dog. Actually my dog saw the racoon first and dragged me toward the cute little thing. At first the racoon stared at us coming straight toward him, then as we came closer, he calmly climbed up a tree and looked at us from above. The racoon looked really cute and was about the size of a big cat. He didn’t seem rabid or scared at all. I quickly took the dog inside the house to prevent him from barking at the racoon and returned with a bag of nuts in hand. But alas, the racoon was gone.

  • bad news

    bad news, guys. not raccoons. just giant, ring-tailed rats.

  • DW

    AEB/Nabeguy … bang-zoom! And a “woo-woo” shake of the raccoon tail to you both.

    Kramden and Norton, two regular guys.
    Who once talked about a string of pole-lop-pone-ees.
    The shows are now close to 53 years old and are still a riot.

    Two of the greatest: Bushwick’s own Herbert John Gleason, and Mount Vernon’s Arthur William Matthew Carney.

  • nabeguy

    Wow DW, you definitely are the winner of the”horse-with-the-stomach-in-its-clock” award!

  • http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/ Peter Steinberg

    Two sitings:

    1. About 4 weeks ago, in the middle of the street in front of 187 Hicks, right by Pierrepont (and then up a tree in front of 178 when I scared him)

    2. About 10 days ago in the back yard of 178 Hicks. Either he went over one of the houses or he found the “opening” into all these back yards by the orange carriage house on Willow.

    I wonder if all these sitings are the same raccoon or has the neighborhood have a whole bunch of them all of a sudden?

    Peter
    http://www.FlashlightWorthyBooks.com
    Books so good, they’ll keep you up past your bedtime. ;)

  • http://selfishmom.com Selfish Mom

    After going through a week last year of raccoons trying to get into our top floor dormer window, we now have a very persistent squirrel trying to gain entry to the second floor.

    http://selfishmom.com/2008/08/22/yes-youre-adorable-but-you-cant-come-in/

  • scared and confused

    One thing to remember–they’re not just on the street! We often enjoy evenings on our Brooklyn Heights rooftop, but a couple of weeks ago we were joined by a raccoon. Very scary, indeed. It seemed to be going after a small bag of trash that had accumulated over the evening. After screaming for a bit (we were startled!) it ambled off over a neighboring rooftop and made its way down a tree. Just a warning!

  • kiki

    omg that raccoon is stoopid!

  • Veevmom

    That screaming you hear is my wife after any sighting of “Mr. Waddles” the north Heights raccoon. City raccoons are more docile than the country versions. Better fed, happier.

  • Janice Higgins

    Holy moly!!!! I saw two of them crossing the street last night right outside my window! I am horrified to walk outside. I have a child and I’m afraid they might attack us or something. What do I need to know? Two raccoons walking calming across the street like nothing. Oh My God!!!!! Never in my life in Brooklyn have I ever seen such a thing. Do we live in a safari all of a sudden? Where did they come from?

  • nabeguy

    Only a Brooklyn raccoon would have the stones to cross the street calmly. I’d explain to your child that, cute as they may be, they’re not to be approached. Chances are that, unless you’re wrapped in a Hefty trash bag, they’re more wary of you than the opposite, but keep your distance just in case.

  • Andrew Porter

    What? No black bear sightings yet? And where are the deer when you need them to slow down speeders on Hicks and Henry?

    One thing the Heights doesn’t need: hungry termites.