Raccoon #7 at the home of Paul Gagliardo

Far away from the wilderness lies a small neighborhood in the golf course community of Woodmont that is currently being invaded by a large family of raccoons.

Paul Gagliardo and his girlfriend Diana Berg have lived for the past year in The Hollows, a small community of around 43 homes at the edge of the golf course.  In March of this year, they noticed that animals were using their swimming pool as a toilet.  Paul spoke with his friend Robert Godek who owns Integrated Pest Control.   Thinking that it was only a lone raccoon, Robert lent him one of his traps to try to catch it.   He sprinkled dry cat food in the trap and not only caught his pool-pooper, but has caught 14 more raccoons and two possums.

It’s not just the raccoons that enjoy his pool, just this past month Paul has also caught turtles, tree frogs and a snake.  Paul humanely relocates the raccoons and possums to the edge of the Everglades.  He believes he has his own farm in his yard and says he may have to start charging admission when his friends visit.