Raccoons are resourceful scavengers. They’ll knock over bins, tear into bags and sometimes squeeze into attics if they think there’s food inside.
Tree hollows can make useful dens, too—provided a raccoon can actually fit. Firefighters in Austin, Texas, discovered that the hard way last week, when one got its head stuck in a tree.
A neighbor called the Austin Fire Department for help. It’s unclear whether the raccoon had been looking for food or a place to hide when it became trapped. Firefighters used a rescue tool to free it from the hollow.
The animal looked limp as crews lowered it to the ground, prompting concern that it might be badly hurt. But the Austin Firefighter Association later said the raccoon was alive and unharmed. It was tired after what may have been a long struggle, the group said, and was handed over to Animal Control.
It’s hard not to wonder if the raccoon simply misjudged the size of the opening. Either way, this particular miscalculation had a happy ending.
