Raccoons Survive And Thrive Among The Dead

Brooklyn’s venerable 478-acre Green-Wood Cemetery is reportedly overrun by 100’s and more likely, 1,000’s of hungry raccoons. Years of “looking the other way” by New York city officials have been a “boon to the raccoon” here. The situation is as bad as it has been in the last 40 years; yet, appropriate city employees are “dead at their desks.” The mask-eyed critters easily survive on insects and vegetation, fresh sod and flowers left on graves and food items scavenged from neighborhood garbage pails. Crypts have often become homes to the more intrepid of the lot.

Alas, nighttime in this graveyard reveals no spirits for ghost-hunters to record. Only the glowing eyes of creatures that are in their element may be seen here … and are seen, everywhere! No longer captured and euthanized, they will continue to multiply and live in impunity. Perhaps in years to come, those of us who become residents of Green-Wood will hear scratching on our casket lid. Nobody in government is listening now. Too late for us to act or complain then.