Spider-Racoon, Spider-Racoon, does what spider can…
Remember the Paris Spider-Man that scaled an apartment building a few weeks back, in order to save a stranded four year old?
Well, if he ever needs a cute animal sidekick, we’ve got him covered.
On Tuesday, a wily racoon found itself stuck on a ledge beneath the UBS building in St. Paul, Minnesota. The animal had been stuck there for two days, without any food or water. It had reportedly been on a different, smaller building and had been removed by pest control officers – but then fled to the much, much taller UBS Building.
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. @mprnews pic.twitter.com/fVI5pmdCWq
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
And because it’s just a dumb – if incredibly cute – animal, it eventually thought the best thing to do was just climb up.
The #mprraccoon has arisen from his nap and is climbing again. pic.twitter.com/K1popKu2bF
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
And up. Here he is climbing past the thirteenth floor.
My picture from the 13th floor around noon. Hope he makes it down OK! #mprraccoon pic.twitter.com/gfVWysn9iO
— Ben (@Johnson88Ben) June 12, 2018
Videos of Spider-Racoon started to spread.
The #mprraccoon is the perfect 2018 metaphor. pic.twitter.com/rsgKwyPlHg
— Chris “Law Dork” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 12, 2018
Occasionally, he stopped for a nap. As people became concerned for its safety, the fire department eventually made a visit. Cat food was even left out for it.
Can confirm #MPRraccoon is still itchy. Got a little visit from @StPaulFireDept too! Cat food awaits it on the roof. pic.twitter.com/WeOTWmbaqz
— Evan Frost (@efrostee) June 12, 2018
St. Paul's animal control folks are noodling on #mprraccoon. Spokeswoman: they may try to put a live trap on roof to bring it down. But it'll have to make it that far on its own & as far as we can tell, the raccoon hasn't had anything to eat or drink for more than 24 hrs.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
Wild life experts advised authorities not to get to close to the racoon, as their presence could startle it and cause it to leap from the building. The fire department also stated that they couldn’t risk the life of a fire fighter to rescue a racoon, no matter how much Twitter cared about it.
For those of you worried about #mprraccoon: I've talked to wildlife experts, who say getting close to raccoon may invite attack or prompt it to leap or fall from ledge. Fire officials say they can't in good conscience risk a life putting a FF over the side of bldg for a raccoon.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
I don't know if I can watch this much longer. The #mprraccoon is scaling the UBS Tower. Now 12 stories up. pic.twitter.com/MaP35MLo9j
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
This is how insanely high it got.
Having a very meta day here with the #mprraccoon. @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/NIzU0aeB2O
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
All this was being reported on via social media in real time, and like any good animal on the loose story, Twitter was loving it. It even inspired fan art.
Hang in there, #mprraccoon . I’m rooting for you! <3 pic.twitter.com/VH6tWBQl63
— @mtegeder@socel.net (@mtegeder) June 12, 2018
Fans turned out IRL to support their new furry hero.
Here's the crowd standing on Cedar Street in downtown St. Paul watching the #mprraccoon. pic.twitter.com/HIJrp7p6JC
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
Eventually, the racoon started to descend the building.
The #mprraccoon is that little dark spot up on the building. He's coming down, one floor at a time. Four stories so far. pic.twitter.com/emHwCh8gts
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
He’s going down, brave #MPRraccoon now around 16th floor down from 23rd pic.twitter.com/WuFiQN0xq2
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) June 13, 2018
We hope it gets down safely. We also eagerly look forward to its fifteen minutes of fame afterward, when it appears on Ellen, then The Celebrity Apprentice, and inevitably gets Milkshake Duck’d.
The crazy part is how did David Blaine even fit into the baby racoon costume
— 𝚄𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚅𝚎𝚛𝚗 (@outlawvern) June 13, 2018
