A raccoon ran into St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village during a candlelight prayer service on Sunday evening, and the commotion was caught on camera by a congregant. The video, shared with ABC7 New York, shows the animal darting through the pews as worshippers react, and the church’s sexton eventually guided the raccoon out of the building.
I pulled up the ABC7 New York report, which confirmed that no one was injured and the service continued after the raccoon was removed. The church did not say how the animal got inside, but raccoons are known to enter buildings through open doors, basement windows, and uncapped chimney flues, especially as nights cool down in October.
What this means for city homeowners
This is not the first urban raccoon encounter in Manhattan, but it is a reminder that raccoons are active year-round and become bolder as they fatten up for winter. In New York City, raccoons are common in parks, backyards, and even residential buildings, and they are most active around dusk and dawn. The New York State Department of Health advises never to feed raccoons and to secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids, because a raccoon that links a building or property with food will keep coming back.
If a raccoon gets inside your home, do not corner it. Open an exterior door or window and give it a clear path to leave, then call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or the city’s animal control. Raccoons can carry rabies, so avoid any direct contact, and if you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound and contact your doctor or local health department right away.
This fall is a good time to check your own property for entry points. Raccoon mating season runs from winter into summer, but as cold weather approaches, they start looking for warm, sheltered spots to den, and an attic or crawl space can look very inviting. Sealing gaps around pipes, vents, and rooflines now can save you from a surprise guest during a late-night service in your own house.
The notice is published by ABC7 New York at abc7ny.com.
