Rabid raccoons are turning up faster in 2026 in New York City's outer boroughs, worrying residents, pet owners, and anyone too close to the animals, according to the New York Post.
Here's what to know
City figures cited by the Post show that, as of Aug. 20, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island had logged 20 raccoon rabies cases together, putting 2026 57% ahead of 2025.
Those 20 cases break down to nine on Staten Island, six in Queens, and five in Brooklyn, meaning the city had already reached the entire 2025 total by that date.
Health data referenced by the Post show Queens with 39 confirmed rabies cases since 2022, followed by Staten Island with 26.
The Bronx recorded 17 cases, and Brooklyn recorded seven.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella criticized the city after it left Staten Island out of a wildlife oral rabies vaccination effort in parks and green spaces.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
He said leaving Staten Island out was "playing with people's well-being," SILive.com reported.
A Central Park raccoon family has become a tourist draw, with people filming them, feeding them, and even trying to make contact.
More background
According to the World Health Organization, rabies is 100% fatal if left untreated.
Moreover, rabies is always "fatal once symptoms start," the Cleveland Clinic warned.
Infections begin with flu-like symptoms before rapidly progressing to a neurological decline that includes hallucinations, thrashing, paralysis, and foaming at the mouth.
NYC Parks warned people to not feed raccoons and to stay back because the animals can spread diseases to people and pets, including rabies, distemper, bacterial infections, raccoon roundworm, and parasites.
The NYC Health Department provided a comment to the Post.
"The NYC Health Department does not advise New Yorkers to approach raccoons or any wild animal," it began.
"Every year, New York City sees a small number of raccoons test positive for rabies … Feeding raccoons can teach them to rely on and expect food from humans," and this feeding can make them "aggressive and sometimes dangerous."
One resident quoted in The Post said raccoons were "constantly in [their] yard," while another said "there are so many houses going up, they have nowhere to go."
Westchester County resident Frank Maida, 81, told WABC-TV that he was bitten by a rabid raccoon while gardening in 2019 and had to undergo a series of shots.
What can be done?
The city handed out fish-scented oral rabies vaccine bait in certain Brooklyn and Queens parks and other green areas, though critics argue Staten Island should be included as well, given its consistently high case numbers.
Do not feed raccoons, do not try to pet them, and keep children away.
If a raccoon approaches, officials recommend making loud noises, raising your arms high, and stomping your feet.
Anyone who is bitten or scratched should promptly wash the wound and seek medical attention right away. Report animals that seem dizzy or unsteady to 911.
Bronx retiree Israel Ortiz, 83, told The Post he has spent nearly 20 years feeding raccoons from one bench near the American Museum of Natural History, but the NYC Health Department cautioned against feeding raccoons.
"Observe and enjoy raccoons from a distance. Do not approach raccoons or any wild animal, pet them or allow children to approach them," said Gregg McQueen of the city's Department of Parks & Recreation.
Where can I learn more?
As raccoon rabies cases climb in New York, other cities are dealing with their own run-ins as wild animals adjust to urban life and people edge closer to them.
Reports from Houston, Grand Rapids, and other neighborhoods show how land development pressure and repeated encounters can quickly foment public safety concerns.
• In one city neighborhood, a growing number of incidents involving coyotes and dogs is spurring action.
• In Houston's Montrose, frequent sightings of wild predators had residents and officials on alert.
• In Grand Rapids, backyard coyote sightings are unsettling homeowners.
Urban wildlife conflicts rarely stay limited to one species or one borough. The same pressures driving New York's raccoon problem can create risks in neighborhoods far beyond the city.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
