Councilman fights against masked furry bandits in Philadelphia

The issue of raccoons walking the streets of Philadelphia is getting more attention now that their chief foe is City Council President.   

Even during the managing director’s budget testimony, Council President Darrell Clarke brought up the issue.

“Can you tell me what the policy is on raccoons in the budget context?” asked Clarke.

Brian Abernathy, who is the managing director’s office chief of staff was quick to reply that Pennsylvania law doesn’t allow the city’s animal control agency to intervene when it comes to the furry bandits.

“Generally speaking if a raccoon is not harming anybody or damaging any property animal control will not respond,” said Abernathy.

Clarke wasn’t happy with the answer, especially after previous hearings when residents testified that raccoons have terrorized them.  

Abernathy says it’s a matter of educating people on managing their trash and other methods to get raccoons to leave them alone.