Racoon that became international celebrity after scaling skyscraper finally trapped
Footage of the racoon’s daring escapade went viral as it scaled the UBS Plaza
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A racoon which became an international celebrity after scaling a 25-storey office tower has been safely trapped and released back into the wild.
Footage of the creature's escapade went viral as it scaled the UBS Plaza in St Paul, Minnesota.
Many Twitter users voiced concern for its safety or joked about the drama as its death-defying climb was livestreamed by several broadcasters.
It looked bedraggled but healthy after it was caught before dawn.
Technicians took the caged racoon down a freight elevator to a truck, according to Wildlife Management Services, which provides animal control services for the city.
“It’s definitely a healthy racoon. It’s in good condition. It’s eating normally,” said Christina Valdivia, the company’s general manager who accompanied the technicians to the rooftop.
The racoon spent much of the day going up and down the tower’s exterior.
It was initially thought that it climbed to a lower part of the building, which is frequented by pigeons, in search of bird eggs.
But after workers tried to lure it down with a wooden ramp, they may have scared it into making the climb.
Evenutally, it made it to the roof, where traps baited with cat food were waiting.
The animal was later released on private property near the Twin Cities suburb of Shakopee.
Minnesota Public Radio, which broke the story and closely followed the racoon’s climb from its headquarters less than a block away, branded the animal #mprraccoon.
“This poor raccoon apparently got itself stranded on a ledge of the Town Square office building in downtown St Paul, likely on an errant mission to raid pigeon nests on the skyway over 7th Street. It’s been there for two days now, without food or water,” Minnesota Public Radio reporter Tim Nelson wrote on Twitter.
The racoon’s odyssey was watched with trepidation and excitement on social media.
“There’s something tragic and inspiring about a poor, starved, and dehydrated raccoon refusing to give up and scaling a high rise building just to survive. Life is precious and worth fighting for,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another said: “The [racoon] is the perfect 2018 metaphor.”
Others shared drawings and a mock Time cover featuring the racoon as Person of the Year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments