Bold statement: Raccoons have turned a Southwest Philadelphia block into a long-running safety concern, and residents say the city isn’t acting quickly enough to fix what attracts them. But the real question is: what will it take for decisive action to protect homes and safety?
Neighbors in Southwest Philadelphia say raccoon infestations have haunted their block for years, and they’re urging the city to address what they describe as unsafe and deteriorating properties that draw the animals into their yards and walls.
Steffond Douglas, a resident on the 7300 block of Dicks Avenue, recently heard a neighbor crying out for help.
"I hear one of my neighbors yelling and screaming, and I hear her say, 'raccoons,'" Douglas recalled.
Douglas has lived on the block for over a year, but others, including Latrice Brooks, say the issue stretches back much further.
"Nobody is listening to us; it’s always a problem. They’re literally tearing up our properties," Brooks said.
Douglas mentioned hiring a wildlife specialist who identified a large opening in a nearby house that had previously gone unnoticed.
City records from the Department of Licenses and Inspections indicate that the property has been deemed unsafe and a danger to health, safety, and welfare. The department warned that, if violations aren’t corrected by August 14, it would act to vacate or demolish the home as soon as reasonably possible.
Brooks described the ongoing situation as exhausting.
"I don’t want anyone to lose their home, but I want to have peace of mind. I don’t get any sleep," she said.
Sarah Barnett, executive director of ACCT Philly, noted that raccoon-related calls are common, especially for homes believed to be sealed but that still have small openings.
"We get lots of calls, and especially in homes that people think have been sealed up, and maybe they missed one spot because those homes, of course, the warmest," Barnett explained.
Barnett added that ACCT Philly responds only when a raccoon is sick, injured, or inside a living space. Otherwise, residents should report concerns through 311.
Brooks emphasized the community’s resolve to push for action.
"Me and my neighbors, we’re not going for this, we’re tired of it," she said.
A spokesperson for Council President Kenyatta Johnson, who represents the area, said the office contacted Licenses and Inspections directly about the issue. L&I indicated they are reviewing an update on the property.
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