BAD NEIGHBORS

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Raccoons have become the talk of the town again on Longboat Key. The barrier island and surrounding areas have always had some issues with the so-called “trash pandas,” but they have gained the spotlight again.

Resident John Frank has expressed continual issues with a nearby dumpster at restaurant Euphemia Haye. Frank, who lives near the restaurant, has a photo and video of dozens of raccoons scurrying around the dumpster, which has its lid open and the gates around it open. The video was shown to town commissioners Monday, eliciting gasps from those in attendance.

“That’s an unforgivable, unacceptable scene that we just saw,” Mayor Ken Schneier said of the video.

Frank says the state of the dumpster provides a sizable nuisance to himself and nearby property owners.

Historical Problem Animals

n Raccoons: Not only are they a nuisance to humans, but it is crucial they are kept away from sea turtle nests during nesting season as they are notorious for digging in the nests and eating the eggs.

n Peacocks: When peacocks had their moment as the town’s issue animal, some residents were displeased with other’s desire to limit their presence on the island. When the birds were frequenting the island, specifically Longbeach Village, the town’s approach was to remove all female birds, but allow for 10-12 male birds to maintain their residence.

n Coyotes: The last time reports were made of coyote sightings in the town was in 2021. Reports to the town began in 2018 with a two-year break in between. The police department was the lead contact and aided in the issue and since then no additional reports of sightings have been forwarded to the town.

“I have recently learned in the last month of a number of our neighbors that have been attacked, both themselves and their pets, by raccoons that frequent the dumpster at Euphemia Haye,” he said. “...What has happened is the raccoons are no longer satisfied with frequenting the dumpster area. They have gone out into the neighborhood.”

He recounted instances of raccoons acting as greeters at the doors of the restaurant, friends and neighbors wary of taking usual walks in the neighborhood and a friend carrying a golf club with him on walks with his dog to ward off aggressive raccoons.

Commissioner Debra Williams recalled an email she had received from a neighbor about a year ago regarding an issue with raccoons at the same restaurant.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons said he wasn’t aware of that complaint, but the town has been working with Euphemia Haye to see if another type of dumpster might solve the issue.

“Our code enforcement officer has made contact with the restaurant to let them know about this and help facilitate a replacement dumpster,” Parsons said.

According to Euphemia Haye owner Amy Whitt, the new dumpster was already purchased by the town and is now in its new home.

“There’s only so much we can do,” she said. “More people might be seeing us have this issue than other restaurants because of the location of our dumpster.”

The dumpster sits in the restaurant parking lot, which is near Joan Durante Park, a historic favorite residence of many raccoons on the Key.

“We don’t want to put anyone in

Keeping Raccoons Away

Raccoons are pesky creatures, and the general public has little to no knowledge of removing them and keeping them away from their homes for the long term.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are a few humane ways to potentially rid your yards and garbage cans of raccoons. For yards, repellent can be applied to the perimeter. The website lists capsaicin as a potential repellent. Keeping exterior lights on can confuse the raccoons danger,” she said. “We just ask customers not feed or approach them.”

Whitt hopes the town will take a larger step into the situation and begin keeping tabs on the raccoons that live in the park.

The removal of the raccoons is a bit of a tricky subject, Parsons said. This is largely because Florida Fish and Wildlife does not consider raccoons to be a nuisance species.

“Even if there isn’t a specific tightly closed dumpster regulation, it’s pretty clear that what’s going on at that site would rise to the level of a public nuisance,” Schneier said.

While neither Schneier or other commissioners had a clear answer on how to solve the issue, they were all in agreement that something has to be done — and soon.

“I think it’s incumbent on us to ensure there isn’t an issue of these raccoons being rabid,” Commissioner Sherry Dominick.

In hopes of addressing this issue and tip you off of their presence. Sprinklers can also be used to frighten approaching raccoons. Keeping raccoons out of trash cans be a slightly larger investment, physically and financially. The organization suggests purchasing garbage cans designed to keep out wildlife, securing lids with bungee cords, ropes or weights and limiting the time the can is out by the curb. When the trash can is not out by the curb, it is suggested it be kept inside a shed or garage. and others, the town is in the process of adopting new property maintenance codes. The new code would help residents and the town ensure garbage cans and dumpsters are not left out or are open or uncovered.

The current code does not require dumpsters and garbage cans have lids that are closed and secured, but the new code would.

Residents would also not be allowed to leave their garbage cans at the end of a driveway for longer than 48 hours before or after their designated pickup date.

However, commissioners were mindful of making the rules reasonable for residents to follow and the town to enforce. The Commission unanimously voted to forward the revised code to its March 6 regular meeting for second reading and adoption.