What's happening
This bill requires New York City to promptly remove nuisance raccoons, ensure their humane release if safe, and implement a spay/neuter program.
Why it matters
Responds to public concerns. By requiring the city to act upon public reports of nuisance raccoons, the bill empowers residents and businesses to have a direct impact on local public health, safety, and quality of life.
Promotes humane treatment. The bill explicitly mandates humane release of raccoons when it is safe, signaling a shift away from lethal control methods and setting a precedent for animal welfare in urban wildlife management.
Addresses overpopulation at its root. By instituting a spay/neuter program for all captured raccoons, the city targets the long-term issue of raccoon overpopulation, potentially reducing future human-wildlife conflicts and the need for repeated removals.
Creates clear city responsibility. The legislation establishes unambiguous obligations for city departments, ensuring accountability and a standardized process for nuisance wildlife management in New York City.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Remove Nuisance Raccoons Humanely
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1530
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the removal of raccoons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-198.1 to read as follows:
§ 17-198.1 Raccoon removal. a. The department shall ensure the prompt removal of any raccoon from any outdoor public or private property upon receiving notice from a member of the public that a raccoon or raccoons have created a nuisance at such property.
b. The department shall coordinate the humane release of raccoons with the department of parks and recreation, provided that the department deems the release poses no threat to public health or safety, in accordance with the rules of the department. In conjunction with the department of parks and recreation, the department shall also establish a program to spay or neuter all raccoons captured pursuant to this section prior to their humane release.
c. The department shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00609-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the removal of raccoons
Purpose or general idea of bill
The legislation will require the New York City Department of Health to respond to requests for removal of raccoons upon outdoor public or private property.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the administrative code of the city of New York by adding a new section 17-198.1 that will require the department of health to ensure the prompt removal of any raccoon from any outdoor public or private property upon receiving notice from a member of the public that a raccoon or raccoons have created a nuisance at such property.
The department of health will also be required to coordinate the humane release of raccoons with the department of parks and recreation, provided that the department deems the release poses no threat to public health or safety, in accordance with the rules of the department. Further, in conjunction with the department of parks and recreation, the department will be required to establish a program to spay or neuter all raccoons captured pursuant to this section prior to their humane release.
Section 2 provides for this act to take effect immediately.
Justification
Raccoons have become an increasing menace to residents of the city of New York and their numbers continue to rise. These animals are very industrious when it comes to foraging for food and create a health hazard as a result of breaking into locked as well as unlocked commercial and residential garbage bins and spread waste over wide areas in their paths. In addition, many of these animals are aggressive and have posed dangers to citizens and domesticated animals. This includes the spread of disease since these animals are common carriers of rabies, canine distemper and the very dangerous raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris progonis).
At present, the city provides no assistance to property owners who find raccoons on their properties, unless the animals are reported as rabid. 311, as well as the Animal Care and Control, merely suggest that homeowners call licensed wildlife removal services or licensed private trappers which cost upwards of $250 and much more to remove a raccoon from a particular property.
Given the clear health hazard and danger to public safety presented by these animals, the Department of Health should be required to provide assistance to property owners who ask to have such animals removed.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.678-A 2013-14: S.453 2011-12: S.5865-A /A.8652-A (Hevesi)
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined. EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.