New York City is experiencing a significant surge in rabies cases among its raccoon population, with 20 confirmed cases logged in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island by August 20. This represents a 57% increase compared to the same period last year, according to city data. Staten Island has recorded nine cases this year, matching its total for all of 2025.
Rabies Hotspots and Vaccination Efforts
Since 2022, Staten Island has documented 26 confirmed rabies cases, second only to Queens with 39. The Bronx has reported 17 cases in the last five years, while Brooklyn has seen seven. Despite Staten Island's consistent caseload, the borough was excluded from a recent city-administered oral rabies vaccination program. This initiative distributed vaccine-laced, fish-scented bait packets in select parks and green spaces across Brooklyn and Queens.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella has criticized the exclusion, stating it compromises public safety. Some residents have noted an increased presence of raccoons in their yards, attributing it to new housing developments displacing wildlife.
Central Park Raccoons Draw Crowds Amidst Health Concerns
In contrast, Manhattan has reported no rabies cases in raccoons this year and only one case from a bat in 2025. A family of raccoons in Central Park has become a notable attraction, with visitors filming, feeding, and attempting to interact with the animals. This behavior has drawn concern from city health officials.
NYC Parks explicitly advises against feeding raccoons and urges the public to maintain distance, as these animals can transmit diseases such as rabies, distemper, bacterial infections, and parasites to humans and pets. Rabies, if untreated, is 100% fatal, often beginning with flu-like symptoms and progressing to severe neurological decline, including hallucinations, paralysis, and foaming at the mouth.
Expert Warnings and Public Safety
Health officials recommend "hazing" any approaching raccoon by making loud noises or gesturing to appear larger. Animals exhibiting symptoms like dizziness or stumbling should be reported to 911. Individuals bitten or scratched are advised to clean the wound and seek immediate medical attention.
Frank Maida, an 81-year-old Westchester County resident, recounted a personal experience in 2019 where he was bitten by a rabid raccoon while gardening. The animal had previously bitten another resident and a man in his driveway before being killed. Maida expressed alarm at people approaching the Central Park raccoons, emphasizing they are wild animals and potentially dangerous.
The NYC Health Department reiterated its warning against approaching raccoons or any wild animals. "Feeding raccoons can teach them to rely on and expect food from humans," a department spokesperson stated, noting this can lead to aggressive behavior. City officials advise observing wildlife from a distance and never allowing children to approach them. The surge in cases has already surpassed the total for 2025, when 20 rabid raccoons were identified across the outer boroughs, compared to only four in 2024.