skunks!

Ughhh....I heard there's a big rat problem is Washington Heights also.

The city needs to introduce owls and coyotes. Without natural predators the skunk population will have no checks and balances. Poison hasn't exactly done much to combat rats.

And since the coyotes are not a likely solution, I think getting used to the skunks is in order. I've seen them elsewhere in the city. There are more skunks than you might think.

not skunks

it's neighbors smoking high quality weed.

http://deep-fried.food.com/recipe/french-fried-skunk-75396

I doubt there are very many. They didn't ask any park officials or wildlife biologists for their estimates. They just asked everyday people on the street, who have no clue how many skunks there are.

I also doubt that they have sprayed their scent very much. They probably just mind their own business unless they are messed with.

I just had a run in with a skunk Friday night on a main thoroughfare in Riverdale. (Yes, not Manhattan, but I grew up there and having skunks there is recent). It crawled out from under a gap in a fence just 3 feet from me. We both startled each other. It backed up and I quickly crossed the street.

Oh, and they do have Coyotes now in Riverdale too. Not the solution. My bet is the fat raccoons in the neighborhood are easier game than the skunks.

While I understand the danger, it almost seems feng shui to see that animals that have long been known to live in the area return. But if you don't like all the rodents, maybe you stop feeding the pigeons and do a better job tying up the garbage. And I'd rather see coyotes and skunks than rats, both of which are not prone to attacking humans and prefer to avoid us.

Feng shui? For whom?

And really, the skunks could do better than Washington heights if optimizing feng shui were their goal. Maybe they'll migrate south, where riversider professes that he'd prefer them to rats. And bring some coyotes with them as well.

Personally I like it. But then I am not repulsed by the skunk smell the way some are.

And they are certainly preferable to rats or even raccoons.

I'm with you. The smell is not so bad, but then again, I've never been a target.

Riversider, you want coyotes?

They're like small dogs. Usually harmless. The ones around the city are quite small.

So smaller than the C0yotes upstate?

Agency issues coyote warning: Have you seen any
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/ny_state_issues_warning_about.html