Well, the harrowing journey is over. The limber raccoon that climbed a building in St. Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday safely made it to the roof early today. The raccoon first appeared on a ledge of a building a couple of days ago. Instead of trying to find a way down, though, the animal started scaling the nearby 25-story UBS tower. Local Minnesota Public Radio reporter Tim Nelson livetweeted the whole incident and posted videos of the raccoon’s busy day.
Here’s the raccoon, dubbed by the internet as MPR Raccoon, at the beginning of the journey:
The #mprraccoon has rescued itself. Sort of. Now it's climbing the skyscraper next door. pic.twitter.com/YD8jalkrrM
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
And here is the animal making it to the roof, around 2:30am CT, where animal control set out a cat food trap:
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
Here it is, #MPRRaccoon’s valiant climb to the top of the UBS Center in Downtown St. Paul, this morning. @KARE11 @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/ot1DPNeRF5
— Dave Peterlinz (@DPet_KARE11News) June 13, 2018
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
— Joel Neill (@joelneill) June 13, 2018
HE MADE IT #mprraccoon pic.twitter.com/DC7LsZ2EZP
The internet watched the raccoon’s slow ascent like it was a captivating reality TV show or a car chase. Memes and jokes followed—and they included references to other seemingly Impossible journeys:
What you've all been waiting for… #MissionImpossible #MPRraccoon 🤣 @kare11 @ElleryTV @DPet_KARE11News @timnelson_mpr pic.twitter.com/SZKNem45yf
— Alicia Lewis (@alicialewisKARE) June 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/willdollinger/status/1006833644269461505
It appears that the raccoon has been trapped.
Top floor law firm @donnelly_law says UBS building management has told them the #mprraccoon formerly in their window HAS BEEN TRAPPED.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
RACCOON UPDATE: it has been trapped, its eating, still on top of tower, will be released "somewhere safe" by private Brooklyn Park contractor Wildlife Management Services
— Tad Vezner (@SPnoir) June 13, 2018
Now the animal just needs a publicist.