Two months ago, Haydee Villanueva heard persistent scratching noises at her bedroom window. She pulled back the drapes to find a raccoon seemingly making itself at home.

“At first I didn’t even know what it was. I just saw a huge animal, and I was petrified,” said Villanueva. “I let go of the curtain and I screamed”

Soon, she says there were more raccoons as the animals sought refuge in the small void between her window in the College Avenue building and a house that was constructed next door.

What You Need To Know

  • Haydee Villanueva says raccoons have taken refuge in the small void between her window and a house that was constructed next door.

  • Villanueva says complaints to her super and landlord, Chestnut Holdings, have fallen on deaf ears

  • When raccoons become a nuisance, 311 offers advice like "eliminate conditions on a property that can be used as dens"

  • Jose Mercado, the building's super says he hasn't seen any recent signs of a raccoon and has not received any report of sightings by other residents

“I have nightmares. I have a lot of anxiety too because I can’t fall asleep... I worry that they’re coming and then I have this fear that they’re going to get in while I’m sleeping,” said Villanueva.

Unlike rats, the city classifies raccoons as wildlife. When raccoons become a nuisance, 311 offers advice like “eliminate conditions on a property that can be used as dens.” But, Villanueva says complaints to her super and landlord Chestnut Holdings have fallen on deaf ears.

“The landlord is completely aware at this point and is still not making any effort to do anything about it, which shows total disregard for my health and safety,” said Villanueva.

NY1 reached out to Chestnut Holdings. They sent the following statement from the building’s super, Jose Mercado:

“I have not seen any recent signs of a raccoon and have not received any report of sightings by other residents. I make sure to check and secure the trash receptacles all the time. Our tenant wanted us to brick up the window, but that is illegal and unsafe. The tenant also requested an interior window security gate but has now refused installation. We also have alerted our Pest Control Service Company to the potential issue.“

Villanueva disputes Mercado’s account.

“He came by like two weeks ago, I think, and he measured the window, and then I never heard anything again.”

Since then, she’s turned to Google for suggestions, putting nails, tape, moth balls and barbed wire on the windowsill to keep the raccoons from returning. So far, she says nothing has helped and has been urging the landlord to remove the window completely so that she can have peace in her home.