Tonya Palton has lived in her Kansas City home for 12 years, running a small daycare there for just as long.
This year, some new neighbors moved into the abandoned home next door - raccoons.
The property has 14 property violations in 2016 alone. There are limbs and brush, broken or missing windowpanes, unapproved storage, and holes in the roof. One of those holes is being used by several raccoons to come in and out of the house.
City officials told Palton it was a wildlife issue and referred her to an expert. Palton said, "Told me to put bowls of vinegar out, cut my light on at night and play loud music."
We talked to Paul Cunningham across the street. He's lived in his house for 49 years and is concerned about the raccoons too.
"Really do never know when one will come and want to jump over here and play or bite or do something you know," he said.
"I'm scared because I know raccoons carry rabies and I know they can claw you one time and that will be it," Palton added. "In situations like this and the city won't help, what am I supposed to do?"
41 Action News reached out to Kansas City to learn more about the issue. Right now, there are five open violations on the house unrelated to the raccoons. We were told, "The owner has been unresponsive to the citations and missed a court date for previous violations."
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Dia Wall can be reached at dia.wall@kshb.com.
