A Cincinnati news station recently stumbled upon an unexpected tenant: a clever raccoon looking to escape the harsh winter.
This little guy has apparently made himself at home next to the crew at Local 12. It’s a quiet presence, really.
Chief meteorologist John Gumm revealed that they hadn’t identified the furry intruder for “some time.” But, he said, they weren’t too shocked when an engineer on a late-night shift spotted the little bandit.
“We thought maybe someone had broken in and was living here to dodge the cold,” Gumm posted, sharing a video of the raccoon.
“Authorities have been alerted,” he added, acknowledging the situation.
The video taken by engineer Noah Schuler showcased the raccoon, aptly nicknamed “trash panda,” sneaking around the newsroom, scavenging through garbage cans.
It paused every little while, poking its head back inside the can like it was on a secret mission.
In the clip, you can see it stretch its leg to grab something from the bottom, almost tipping the can over before it scurried back to what looked like a cozy hideout nearby.
It’s not entirely clear how long the raccoon had been lingering in the office.
The Local 12 crew and their audience had a blast trying to guess the identity of the unexpected squatter.
“We’ve got a new employee helping us with the show,” joked anchor Megan Mongillo.
One user on X humorously said, “I’m their lawyer, firing them would be unfair dismissal.”
Another chimed in with suggestions for more raccoon-friendly perks, like a badge and a cute bib.
Interestingly, Local 12 isn’t the first place to have a raccoon run-in this year. Back in December, another raccoon went viral after it broke into a Virginia liquor store and ended up passed out next to a toilet, clearly the consequence of its drinking escapade.
