According to the United States Census Bureau website, Orlando has grown from 2010 to 2018 by 19.6%, and with this increase in population comes an increase in urban development that likely caused the death of one raccoon by suffocation on a glass mason jar. 

“People feel entitled like it’s our land when it’s not our land, we have to share it,” says Tomasz Gruzyinski, who has been the President of the Home Owners Association for Nona Preserve for the past two years. Gruzyinski found the body of the suffocated raccoon, which inspired him to post it to popular app Neighbors that connects homeowners from a certain area together via social media to spread awareness.

Gruzyinski, who has been volunteering at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium monthly for the past three years, shared some of his tried and true tips to stop raccoons from getting into your garbage cans at night. Wrap bungee cords around your trash can at night, so it keeps the restraint constant on the closed lid and remove the bungee cord before you leave for work. 

“Part of the reason the HOA asks you to bring trash cans inside when it’s not your pick-up days is so animals can’t get inside,” he says. Another solution he suggests is to put a sharp object around the trash cans and make sure nothing surrounding the trash can would enable the raccoons to climb into your trash easier. “Raccoons are very smart and once they learn they can’t get into your trash can, they won’t come back,” Gruzyinski says. 

Kelly Verduin, administrative manager at Back To Nature Wildlife Refuge, also recommends making sure the Orange County garbage bins are being closed tightly and correctly as they are made to withstand most wildlife. Raccoons, who are in season year-round, have figured out ways to enter the trash cans when they are typically overflowing with stuff. Scaring raccoons away using loud sounds and flickering lights are the best ways to safely get rid of them.   

Before encountering an injured animal, such as a raccoon stuck in dangerous trash, knowing what to do and who to call is important. Back To Nature focuses on the four “R’s,” Rescue, Raise, Rehabilitate, Release, and then Educate. “We prefer people to do their best to keep the babies with their mom, but things happen, development happens, dogs and cats happen,” Verduin says. 

In the case of an animal emergency, the best thing to do before touching the injured animal is to call Back To Nature at (407) 568-5138. So far this year through July, Back To Nature has rescued about 2,650 animals total, including 141 raccoons.

The wildlife refuge will be receiving a fund from Orange County of about $3.5-4 million to expand its headquarters and be able to help more animals and educate the public better with their five new buildings. The plan is to be completed in 2020 and allows the nonprofit to continue housing their “educational ambassadors,” known as their resident animals that cannot be released back into the wild.  

Education is important because “if people don’t have an understanding for it, they don’t have respect for it, and the more understanding they have, the easier they can cohabitate,” says Verduin. She recommends educating the children of the Lake Nona community by bringing them to the guided tours that Back To Nature offers. Gruzyinski says it’s the responsibility of the government to educate the youth and give them the tools necessary to learn more about the environment. He would like to see bungee cords given with the trash cans provided by Orange County and just charge the cost of the bungee cords.   Donations for Back To Nature are welcomed through their website: www.BTNwildlife.org.