A vacant row home in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood is doing more than collecting dust.
A resident on Argyle Street said the abandoned property has turned into a raccoon colony, with the animals spreading from the empty house into the surrounding block and prompting residents to press for the building to be secured.
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The neighbor described a house that had stood empty long enough for raccoons to settle in, breed, and use it as permanent shelter. As Fox 29 reported, Iseih Williams said the infestation was affecting more than that one derelict structure.
"I saw them all piled up right here," she said. "It was about 12 of them. Babies just climbing up to the top. … They're not scared. They walk through the streets with their little family. … I call them the new kids on the block."
Raccoons are highly adaptable animals, especially in cities, where shelter can be limited but human-built structures offer protection from predators and the elements. An abandoned house can provide a dark, enclosed place to nest, while nearby trash, pet food, and other easy meals can keep the animals around.
Animals living inside structures can create sanitation concerns, damage walls and insulation, and increase the risk of encounters. In a dense neighborhood where homes sit close together, one neglected property can quickly become a problem for the whole block.
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More background
Williams said the home was the center of the activity and noted a baby lived next door. Urban wildlife issues are often linked to open buildings, upkeep issues, and readily available food sources.
Raccoons are well known for thriving in spaces people have reshaped. In cities, they can use attics, crawl spaces, chimneys, and abandoned structures much as they would tree hollows in undeveloped areas.
When a property is left open and unmaintained, it can become an ideal raccoon habitat or home to other wildlife. That can affect people's health, properties, and sense of safety on an otherwise ordinary residential block.
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