Raccoons are extremely intelligent and very adaptable to human environments.  Their long dexterous fingers allow them to be able to gain access into various human habitats.  They can easily turn doorknobs, open latches, and open trash can lids.  Once a raccoon discovers a good food source, they are not likely to want to leave and will return for their nighttime nibbling, often causing destruction and mayhem.  Although their adorable masked faces and ringed tails might make them look friendly, they can be a fierce pest to have lurking about your home or business.

Raccoons thrive not only in the wilderness, but in cities as well.  People may find it hard to believe, but the densest population of New York raccoons is in New York City.  There have been dozens of raccoons in Central Park this year that have tested positive for rabies.  The city has been very aggressive in trapping and vaccinating raccoons at the park to help keep rabies from spreading.

Raccoons are causing New York City residents in some boroughs constant problems.  Because of complaints by some homeowners, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley introduced a new bill that would require that the city provide raccoon trapping services to residents in all five boroughs.  The bill would allow for residents to call the Department of Health and request that raccoons be removed from their property.  As it stands now, the  Department of Health will onlyremove raccoons that appear to be sick, ie…are showing signs of having rabies.  If New York City residents are having trouble with raccoons gaining access to their homes, scampering through their yard, tearing through their trash, knocking on their windows, etc, they are required to call a pest control specialist who is trained in wildlife removal services.

Please check back on Friday for the conclusion.

Raccoons are adorable when you see them frolicking together out in the backyard or woods.  Their cute little striped face, big brown eyes, pointy whiskers, and shiny nose may make you think that they are as friendly as your neighbors golden retriever.  Get close to them or have them pay a visit to the interior of your home, and you will see that they are not quite as cuddly as you imagined.

People in Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York are encountering raccoons in increasing numbers this summertime season. Just this past week, two raccoons were seen trying to obtain entry into a third story apartment of one residence.  They clawed the screen, scratched the glass, and even tried to open the window to get inside.  The resident, who was on the inside bashing on the window, could not even scare the creatures away.  Earlier the same month, the same resident awoke to his kitchen being ransacked by a raccoon.  Another Park Slope resident reports that she had four raccoons running amuck in her dining room and kitchen.

Raccoons are extremely strong and resourceful critters to deal with.  Once they have entered your home and decided it is a good place to nest, they are difficult and dangerous to evict.  Even though they can weigh as much as 35 pounds, these animals can squeeze their large bodies into spaces as small as four inches.  Raccoons are a constant problem for homeowners because of the damage that they cause to structures, urine and feces that they leave behind, and electrical wires that they chew.  They can cause damage to gardens, lawns, crops and livestock as well.  Raccoons are known carriers of many diseases that are extremely dangerous to humans and domestic animals.  Contracting rabies from raccoons is always a concern; but you also need to be concerned about distemper, roundworms, fleas, mites, and ticks when raccoons are present.

Raccoons can be one of the most challenging wild animals to remove. If you have raccoons in your home, contact Stern Environmental Group.  We offer expert Raccoon Control and Removal Services to Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut areas.

Continuing from Thursday…

Not only is Josimar Ferreira accused of operating a Massachusetts extermination company without being certified, but it has been reported that he has also allegedly maintained pest control companies in New Jersey and New York as well.  Both New Jersey and New York have cited Ferreira for operating an unlicensed pesticide business.  It makes you wonder how he is able to obtain toxic pesticides, without being properly licensed.  Clearly there was a breakdown…in three states!

Stern Environmental Group has been providing expert bed bug and pest control services in New Jersey and New York for over ten years.  We pride ourselves on providing our customers with the safest pesticide application available, and offer a wide variety of services and products to meet many different types of needs.  We offer professional services to both residential and business customers alike.  Whether you are looking for help with bed bugs, rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, ants, spiders, cockroaches, or bee control, Stern Environmental Group’s licensed pest control applicators are here to lend a helping hand!

In continuation from Tuesday…

Once an animal contracts rabies, they are very unpredictable and should be avoided.  It was recently reported in the news that a nine year old girl was walking into a church when a rabid raccoon jumped out of the bushes and attacked her.  The raccoon had such a tight grasp on the poor girls leg that when church members scooped her up to carry her inside, the creature refused to let go and was lifted up as well!  In another story, a woman was sleeping soundly in her bed when a rabid raccoon entered her home and bit her foot for absolutely no reason!

Residents of New York and New Jersey should always take precautions and watch out for rabid raccoons when walking on the streets.  You should never feed or try to befriend any wild animal.  If you see an animal acting strange or have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, the New York City Health Department advises that you contact the 311 line.

If you have raccoons causing trouble at your home or business in New York or New Jersey; Stern Environmental Group is here to help.  We provide 24 hour emergency raccoon removal services in the New York City Metropolitan region servicing New York City, parts of New Jersey and parts of Long Island.  Our trained experts will safely and humanly remove these damage causing, and potentially disease ridden pests, fast and efficiently!  Give us a call today.

Last night I returned home late.  It was dark and when I pulled into the driveway I noticed two little eyes shining underneath the van parked in front of the garage.  After I parked, I began calling “here kitty kitty” as my neighbors cat is often a nighttime visitor.  The kitty did not come out as it usually did so I bent down to look under the van to make sure that it was not injured.  The animal under the van began to hiss at me in a way that it had never done before.  I quickly jumped up and it was then that a rather large raccoon came bounding out towards me.  Not knowing if the raccoon had rabies, or what the animal would do; I quickly made a run for the front door.  I shutter to think of enduring the painful shots that I would have been subjected to had that raccoon gotten his claws or teeth into me!

Rabid raccoons have been a troublesome pest in New York and New Jersey as well as other parts of the United States.  In January of this year, the New York City Health Department reported that there were 23 rabid raccoon sightings, mostly in the Central Park area.  This is a spike in numbers from the four rabid raccoons reported in Manhattan for all of 2009. Unfortunately, in the Bronx and Staten Island, rabid raccoon sightings are a fairly common occurrence for homeowners.

Please check back on Thursday for the conclusion.