Northeast - Central Park last night 7.2

Rode a few loops in the Park last night and it was surprisingly quiet. Perfect weather. Few tourists and the nice new westside roads. Excellent riding.

I did see a bunch of tourists crowded around a tree and slowed to take a look. The tourists had treed a racoon and were inching closer and closer to it. I really wanted to stick around to see who the racoon took out first, but the riding was too nice to linger. Do people really think they can pet wild NYC racoons?

A wild racoon in Central Park? Are you sure it didn't escape from the Zoo? I've seen them in the Bronx and heard about them in Queens but this is the first I've heard about wild racoons in Manhattan.

I guess if the dogs don't get it, the tourists will :p

I saw a whole family of racoons in CP a few months ago. There were about 10 or 15 all in this same area, eating a bunch of garbage. It was quite a scene.

I totally mised the racoons. The park was nice though. Not too hot. Not too buggy either.

Stacy, There are a bunch of racoons in the Park. Especially on the northwest side near Harlem Hill. There were bats out as well eating up all the bugs.

There is always a bunch of racoons hanging out at the Boat House restaurant, but I've neer seen one at the Tavern on the Green. I think the quality of the garbage tells a lot about the quality of the food...

Cp racoons are fully adapted to NYC living - I have had one steal a power bar right from under my nose.

They are in all of the 5 boroughs of NYC. Too bad no more beavers live here.


S/F,
CEYA!

I remember seeing one in a trap at the Columbia U boathouse in Inwood in the early 90s. They're not cute when stuck inside those things.

I've seen bats on the East Drive right around the S Turn but I probably leave CP before the racoons come out. Don't they like to wash their food before they eat it? That would make the Boat House much more attractive than Tavern on The Green. I'll have to stay a little later one of these evenings and see if I can spot these guys.

About a month ago the NY Times reported beavers have built a dam in the Bronx River somewhere near the Bronx Zoo. I'm always amazed to see how much wildlife we have in the City.

There are raccoons in my neighborhood in Brooklyn, I've seen them in my garden. There are also snakes, at least in the wild areas, I've hit one, a big one at that. It was 5-6 ft long and about 2 inches thick. I went over it and when I turned around to see it had an indentation where I went over it but it was still moving. I probably didn't do it any real harm, but I didn't stop to find out.

Inwood. Tons. There are feral dogs working Inwood Hill and Highbridge parks too.

Also, check out the area around the Delacorte Theatre. There is a nursery of Raccoons living out back.

Cp racoons are fully adapted to NYC living - I have had one steal a power bar right from under my nose.

Yeah, I heard one complain about rent prices a few nights ago!!

I had a nice bbq today....

Yeah, I heard one complain about rent prices a few nights ago!!
Nah, from the looks of it, they own, not rent :)

Talking of racoons, New York City and BBQs - I am thinking of taking a ride to GWB and Palisades (wanted to do some climbing there) coming Saturday morning, would love if anyone joins in.

There is always a bunch of racoons hanging out at the Boat House restaurant, but I've neer seen one at the Tavern on the Green. I think the quality of the garbage tells a lot about the quality of the food...

Cp racoons are fully adapted to NYC living - I have had one steal a power bar right from under my nose.

I've seen them at night around 72nd St, near the lake. I'd be wary if you see them during the day, a sure sign that they are rabid.

I'd be wary if you see them during the day, a sure sign that they are rabid.

Generally, I'd agree with that.. but I wonder if they're just more used to being around people. Regardless, don't approach a raccoon. Rabid or not, they still have a pretty bad disposition (especially if cornered or something like that). Dogs in the boonies generally find that out the hard way :)

Generally, I'd agree with that.. but I wonder if they're just more used to being around people. Regardless, don't approach a raccoon. Rabid or not, they still have a pretty bad disposition (especially if cornered or something like that). Dogs in the boonies generally find that out the hard way :) I accidentally cornered one on my deck when I lived in Rockland. It started hissing and I ran inside. It followed me to the screen door, where it stood up on its hind legs, looking in and still hissing at me. They're more a nuisance than anything else, and have adapted well to knocking over garbage cans and distributing the contents all over the driveway.

I've seen a nature film of a raccoon stalking and killing a rabbit. Not exactly sure how they staged this, but the bunny was on one side of a big tree and the raccoon on the other. The raccoon whips around from behind, bites the bunny on the back of the neck and starts howling. Finally, the noisy raccoon dragging the doomed rabbit into the bushes. :eek:

Oh my!

Just around 8:41 pm as I was nearing the crest of The Great Hill the cyclist ahead of me called out "Raccoon!" Sure enough, there was a raccoon as big as my two cats put together strolling across the three lanes of the West Drive completely oblivious to the three cyclists headed his way.

A litle while later one came up to me as I was spinning my way up the West drive in the 90s. He was maybe 10 feet away and looked me right in the face like he was hoping I'd feed him.

Then three more crossing the East Drive just above the 90th Street entrance. I can't imagine walking a small dog after dark in Central Park would be a very good idea.

More like wondering if he could eat you.

I saw one crossing CPW a couple of nights ago on the way home, headed for the apt complex at 108th, 105th?, whatever, right around there. Obviously making a garbage picking run.

More dangerous than a racoon: The other night I was riding on the west side of the Park, coming down one of the hill of the park & a large, young kid, maybe 12 or so comes out of the bushes & flicks his wet towel at me. I would have laughed if it wasn't me. I swerved & his just missed me. I waited until it was clear, turned around & chased the kid down. He ran and hid.

Not sure what I was going to do to him when I caught up with the kid.

Anyway, if Racoons start flicking wet towels at you, well THEN you can start worrying...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=z1bjftgMG3A

Wierd first post on these forums, but Ive seen a racoon in Central Park before, near 103rd st on the west side, it was white and huge, and it leapt up and sat on a garbage can in one smooth jump.

Racoons are like rats and pigeons...the City (especially C. Park) is perfect for them. They eat all the garbage people leave lying around and they even knock over garbage cans. Also, there are plenty of places for them to hide during the day.