Near South 18th Street and Windlake Avenue, a Milwaukee homeowner says a deteriorating neighboring house has attracted many raccoons.
He said he sometimes watches groups of four or five move through his yard and back toward the rundown property, and that some can get aggressive and show their teeth if he gets near them.
Here's what to know
Alberto Aguirre, who lives nearby, said the house has been in poor shape, citing shattered windows, tall grass, and discarded tires as signs of a neighborhood problem.
It's not only a neighborhood blight, but it's also a safety issue. He said the animals routinely travel between his property and the adjacent garage and yard.
"The owner, he just gave up on the house. He hasn't been putting any money into fixing it," Aguirre said.
Records highlighted by WISN 12 News show many complaints and city contacts connected to the address, along with at least 14 cleanup violations.
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When reached about the property, the homeowner said he hadn't responded to Department of Neighborhood Services actions, insisted he didn't believe anything was wrong there, and then ended the exchange.
Aguirre said the disrepair is spilling onto his property and making him uneasy about being outside.
More background
He said it is common to find four or five raccoons in his yard before they slip back to the neighboring garage or lot.
"Very aggressive. I carry a bat with me in my car, and I could push at him, but they put their teeth out like they really want to go for you. And I just gotta wait until they go," Aguirre said. "They're really aggressive, they're really bad."
Photos referenced by WISN 12 News show a garage door broken open, which can give vermin a place to hide and bring wildlife into closer contact with residents. Human spaces that become appealing for wild animals may intensify human-wildlife confrontations.
What's being done?
Aguirre said the Department of Neighborhood Services boarded up the garage, addressing the section of the property he considered the worst and the same open structure city photos suggested could shelter pests.
WISN 12 News also reported that DNS issued a violation order after someone was found staying in the garage.
The 14 violations show the property has repeatedly been on the city's radar, even if they have not yet led to a full cleanup.
DNS officials told 12 News they are weighing further action related to the property.
Aguirre said the owner should keep up the house and repair it so it stops drawing animals and affecting nearby homes.
"We just want the landlord to fix the house, make something decent out of it. To take care of it, not to leave it like that, because it's affecting our properties."
Where can I learn more?
These stories highlight similar raccoon encounters and other wildlife problems spilling into neighborhoods. They cover infestations, attacks, attempted home intrusions, health risks, and another community dealing with destructive animals.
• A homeowner ended up with 100 raccoons outside her home after feeding them for years.
• In Ridgewood, New Jersey, officials considered dropping rabies pellets by air after two attacks.
• A homeowner watched porch visitors try to walk inside when raccoons reached the front door.
• Across Europe, researchers are warning that raccoon roundworm can have severe consequences in suburban backyards.
• Near Gujarat's sanctuary, residents said property damage kept getting worse as macaques spread.
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