I have no advice, but I just wanted to let you know I am rooting for both you and the raccoon! Keep us updated!
On Thu, Aug 28, 2025, 9:39 AM Nau, Morgan <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello All, > > > > I’m writing to the group about a “pest” that’s new to me - raccoons - and > I’d love some thoughts and advice from the group. > > > > We are located in Central Park, so there is a significant amount of > wildlife all around us (a coyote showed up on the 5th Ave side just a > couple months ago!). This spring, a raccoon family moved into a tree right > next to the museum and made themselves quite comfortable. For the last > month one of the juveniles has begun exploring the exterior of the museum > and he’s been found on the roof garden, on ledges, and most recently has > turned a construction site into his personal jungle gym. He stays away from > people, doesn’t appear sick or rabid, hasn’t caused any damage or made any > messes, and is clearly just very curious (I’ve attached a few pictures of > the little bandit in action). So far, I’ve advised people to give a wide > berth and to keep the site clear of food and trash, which they have, and > the construction crew haven’t had any problems. > > > > Unfortunately, work is beginning on our skylights in a couple of weeks (so > I’m on a time crunch!) and there is concern that it could find a way into > the building and cause general chaos and serious damage, especially given > his adventurous nature - which we absolutely don’t want. The major concern > I have though is that according to NYC law, when a licensed wildlife > professional traps a raccoon, they cannot relocate it, but are required to > euthanize it (source > <https://www.nyc.gov/site/wildlifenyc/animals/raccoons.page>). And the > last thing I want to do is have a healthy, nondangerous animal put down if > it isn’t necessary. > > > > We have a great pest management vendor who is aware that he’s been around > and I’ll be alerting them to this latest development to brainstorm next > steps. I’m also working on connecting with the NYC Parks department to see > if they can help me come up with solutions. And I was hoping that there > might be members in this group who have experience with this kind of thing > and might have less lethal suggestions as well. Feel free to message me > off-list if you’d prefer - [email protected]. > > > > Thank you all for any insight and thoughts! > > Morgan > > > > > > -- > > Morgan Nau > IPM Program Administrator > Director's Office > > > * The Metropolitan Museum of Art* > 1000 Fifth Avenue > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1000+Fifth+Avenue++%0D%0ANew+York,+NY+10028?entry=gmail&source=g> > New York, NY 10028 > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1000+Fifth+Avenue++%0D%0ANew+York,+NY+10028?entry=gmail&source=g> > @metmuseum <https://www.instagram.com/metmuseum> > metmuseum.org <http://www.metmuseum.org/> > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MuseumPests" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/SN6PR05MB55994064AC10F75417EBF080883BA%40SN6PR05MB5599.namprd05.prod.outlook.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/SN6PR05MB55994064AC10F75417EBF080883BA%40SN6PR05MB5599.namprd05.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/CAMLh2mVTxWimq99d3dJKgjZGtBgBzmxq%3DGa8eXjV4gqjW4Ky7g%40mail.gmail.com.
