Are the days numbered for Philadelphia raccoons?

City Council has approved a bill to tackle Philadelphia’s raccoon problem.  The Nutter administration is promising not to enforce it.

Councilman Darrell Clarke introduced the bill because of increasing complaints from residents.

“The reality is there clearly is a significant problem in a lot of parts of the city as it relates to raccoon infestation in rowhome communities,” said Clarke.  “We had several people testify and we witness out on the street the challenges associated with raccoons.”

The bill calls on Philadelphia to trap and re-locate problem raccoons.

The Nutter administration says the law gives the state, not the city, power to trap raccoons, so animal control officers won’t be trapping the furry bandits.  That disappoints Clarke.

“Up in the Northeast earlier this year a child was bitten by a beaver and there was a rush to abate the beaver issue up in the particular creek and a small park in the Northeast.  We hope it doesn’t get to that when it comes to raccoons,” he said.

At public hearings, animal activists explained state regulations mandate the killing of any trapped raccoon, but the bill requires humane removal.