Raccoons live in condemned home that’s had problems for 10 years – KETV Omaha

The uninvited guests staying in a house on North 50th Avenue aren't using the front door and can't read the posted danger sign. "They've absolutely taken over the home," Jim Bogensberger said.He lives behind the home and watched the raccoons come and go."I think this is going way beyond a nuisance issue. This is a health and safety issue," he said.Neighbors say the raccoons took over home long before the city condemned it in October, climbing through holes in the roof. "Having an ugly house in the neighborhood is one thing, but having an infestation of potentially dangerous animals is another thing," Bogensberger said.KETV investigates learned this has been an issue for years. We tracked down a former neighbor who said the upkeep of the house and yard was even a problem when she first moved next door in 2005. Peggy Davis said she had to call the city to complain back then. "It's a shame. It's a shame," Davis said. She moved out of state in 2016.Davis said dead trees, crumbling bricks and broken glass landed in her yard. She also saw the ring-tailed bandits next door."I called an extermination company and they said you have to do something about your neighbor since that's where they are coming from," Davis said.She sent her neighbor letters and called the city.That prompted the owner to do some work, as we found in a photo from 2014 with a dumpster in the driveway. "I don't understand, it could be such a beautiful house," Davis said.In April 2021, KETV Newswatch 7 investigates learned city inspectors sent the owner a list of nine code violations, from chimney and gutter damage to a hole in the skylight and no city permits.Some new windows were installed, but that didn't stop the nocturnal nuisances. "With that big hole in the house, who knows how many have taken over," Bogensberger said.The city condemned the home in October. But months later, the raccoons are still wreaking havoc. "The frustration level is the city has been notified several times, several calls made to him personally and nothing's happened," Bogensberger said.That's when KETV Newswatch 7 stepped in to help find answers."When you called me, I happen to be only a few blocks away when I talked to you, so I decided to go by," Chief Housing Inspector Scott Lane said.After visiting the property, the next day Lane issued an order to vacate, which starts the process of putting the early century home on the demolition list. "This is a home. You don't want to put on that list. It's a beautiful home," Lane said.Lane said they finally found a working phone number for the owner and left several messages. Lane said the owner finally called him and said he hadn't received any letters or notices from the city."He definitely knows they are getting in the attic because he can hear them clawing while he's there and therefore he won't sleep there," Lane said.Lane said a deal is in the works for someone else to buy the home within the next two weeks.The city gave the owner 30 days to get it sold and fix the issues, otherwise, Lane said the city will ticket him with code violations. Each violation carries a six-month jail term and/or a $500 fine.The owner did not return our calls.

The uninvited guests staying in a house on North 50th Avenue aren't using the front door and can't read the posted danger sign.

"They've absolutely taken over the home," Jim Bogensberger said.

He lives behind the home and watched the raccoons come and go.

"I think this is going way beyond a nuisance issue. This is a health and safety issue," he said.

Neighbors say the raccoons took over home long before the city condemned it in October, climbing through holes in the roof.

"Having an ugly house in the neighborhood is one thing, but having an infestation of potentially dangerous animals is another thing," Bogensberger said.

KETV investigates learned this has been an issue for years. We tracked down a former neighbor who said the upkeep of the house and yard was even a problem when she first moved next door in 2005. Peggy Davis said she had to call the city to complain back then.

"It's a shame. It's a shame," Davis said.

She moved out of state in 2016.

Davis said dead trees, crumbling bricks and broken glass landed in her yard. She also saw the ring-tailed bandits next door.

"I called an extermination company and they said you have to do something about your neighbor since that's where they are coming from," Davis said.

She sent her neighbor letters and called the city.

That prompted the owner to do some work, as we found in a photo from 2014 with a dumpster in the driveway.

"I don't understand, it could be such a beautiful house," Davis said.

In April 2021, KETV Newswatch 7 investigates learned city inspectors sent the owner a list of nine code violations, from chimney and gutter damage to a hole in the skylight and no city permits.

Some new windows were installed, but that didn't stop the nocturnal nuisances.

"With that big hole in the house, who knows how many have taken over," Bogensberger said.

The city condemned the home in October. But months later, the raccoons are still wreaking havoc.

"The frustration level is the city has been notified several times, several calls made to him personally and nothing's happened," Bogensberger said.

That's when KETV Newswatch 7 stepped in to help find answers.

"When you called me, I happen to be only a few blocks away when I talked to you, so I decided to go by," Chief Housing Inspector Scott Lane said.

After visiting the property, the next day Lane issued an order to vacate, which starts the process of putting the early century home on the demolition list.

"This is a home. You don't want to put on that list. It's a beautiful home," Lane said.

Lane said they finally found a working phone number for the owner and left several messages. Lane said the owner finally called him and said he hadn't received any letters or notices from the city.

"He definitely knows they are getting in the attic because he can hear them clawing while he's there and therefore he won't sleep there," Lane said.

Lane said a deal is in the works for someone else to buy the home within the next two weeks.

The city gave the owner 30 days to get it sold and fix the issues, otherwise, Lane said the city will ticket him with code violations. Each violation carries a six-month jail term and/or a $500 fine.

The owner did not return our calls.

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Raccoons live in condemned home that's had problems for 10 years - KETV Omaha