Urban Park Ranger Animal Condition Response Form
Rangers: Lily Grossbard
Date and time of Ranger response: 11/28/2021 11:15:00 AM
Borough: Brooklyn
Property: Marine Park
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center
Species Description: Raccoon
Call Source: Observed by ranger
Species status: Domestic
Animal Condition: DOA
Duration of Response: 0.25
Age: Adult
Animal Class: Domestic; Small Mamnals-non RVS; Small Mammals-RVS[1]; Marine Mammals-seals only; Marine Mammals-whales, Dolphins; Marine Reptiles; Terrestrial Reptile or Amphibian; Deer; Fish-numerous quantity; Non Native Fish-(invasive); Birds; Raptors; Rare, Endangered, Dangerous; Coyotes
Final Ranger Action: Relocated/Condition Corrected
# of Animals: 1
Animal Monitored: False
Police Response: False
Comments: Connor and I found a dead raccoon by the side of the road right before we were about to begin the Sunday Winter Waterfowl Program, so we decided to leave it for later. Some of the patrons inquired but we rebuffed with the delightful buffleheads and hooded mergansers (there’s a rare Eurasian / North American crossbreed for those interested parties with “life lists”). I double-bagged the raccoon while Connor didn’t help and filmed me. “I’m making this for you to enjoy later.” I would say it felt soft and hard at the same time. Hard-core rigor mortis. It was bleeding from its mouth so I surmised it was hit by a car. Our supervisor, Judith, was not concerned. We left it in the trash for M&O to take to the dump where a trash barge would haul it to an island in the East River to decompose along with all our microplastics and Twin Towers debris (“historical trash,” as Brad the geologist likes to joke).
As it goes, I don’t mind dealing with so-called Animal Conditions because at least they are concrete tasks that fall in the categories of complete or incomplete. It’s simply a matter of steeling yourself against the unpleasantness at hand and swaddling the dead raccoon against your body, with only the relatively thick plastic of a black contractor bag in between you and death.
[1] Rabies Vector Species
