Elusive BK Subway Raccoon Released Into Prospect Park: Reports

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — An elusive subway raccoon that avoided cages set up at Nevins Street subway station for months has finally found a new home in Brooklyn's backyard.

The Downtown Brooklyn station's pet, who workers lovingly named Chepe, was finally captured over the weekend and released into Prospect Park, cops told The New York Post and The City.

The raccoon had been living near the station's break room since at least November, occasionally drawing the attention of curious straphangers who noticed him wandering the platform.

Chepe had avoided cages set up by officers stocked with plantains, chicken and a bagel for days. He was finally lured into a cage on Sunday, police said.

"I miss him already," one cop told The City, saying Chepe had become a friend.

Chepe isn't the first raccoon to make his way into one of the city's subway stations.
Earlier this year, straphangers and elected officials worried about raccoons that seemed to be taking over the Canarsie L train station.

The Post reports that raccoon-related train disruptions have more than doubled this year compared to 2018.