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Street and Backyard Neighbors
Street Intro |Image: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Reproduction of drawings by Ernest Thompson Seton, signed "E.T.S. 1886"
From: E. T. Seton, Lives of Game Animals: An Account of Those Land Animals in America, North of the Mexican Border…. Vol. 2 of 4 (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page, 1925–28)
NYPL, General Research Division

 

 

 

 

 

This drawing of Raccoon "poses & details" exemplifies one aspect of the many talents of Ernest Thompson Seton (1860–1946), one of the best-known and most controversial and prolific naturalists of his time. His fine illustrations enhanced not only his own books but also those of other authors. Seton’s writings ranged from the highly regarded Lives of Game Animals to sentimental and now dated anthropomorphic animal stories.

Raccoons frequent city parks and natural areas, private backyards, and sometimes totally inappropriate locales: in May 1995 one was sighted on the elevated subway platform at Broadway and 231st Street. The Raccoon led pursuing police on a merry chase until it was finally tranquilized and captured.
Check out the sighting log to record your interaction with some of the native New York City wildlife, such as the Raccoon, featured in Urban Neighbors. You may also browse the sighting log by animal, borough, park or natural area, and/or habitat to view a sighting you have submitted or to read others’ observations.



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