Just a few days ago, the world witnessed pure bravery when a Malian national scaled four storeys to save a child dangling from a balcony. But even this feat has just been outdone… by a raccoon.
Internet fame doesn’t last long, especially when a fluffy, determined trash panda decides to scale one of St Paul, Minnesota’s tallest buildings.
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Under the hashtag #Mprraccoon, users across the internet united to watch this furry little fella do the near impossible. And by impossible, we mean becoming even bigger news than Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un’s landmark Singapore summit.
It all began on Monday, when the mammal was spotted on a lower echelon of the tower. But sick of being stranded for at least two days, the raccoon began climbing up the 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
Why up? One Twitter user suggested the raccoon was scared by a maintenance worker trying to get it down.
“When raccoons are scared they climb up,” she added.
That’s actually how he ended up 20something floors up. The maintenance men tried to help him down and he got scared. When raccoons are scared they climb up. #mprraccoon
— 《samalamadingdong》 (@distortedyinzer) June 12, 2018
Nevertheless, soon the feat was livestreamed by CBS Minnesota, and eventually captured the hearts of others in St. Paul. By Tuesday evening, the entire world knew about the animal’s plight.
Twitter just couldn’t deal.
I can hardly stand this anymore. 17th floor. #mprraccoon pic.twitter.com/CkhMlVyEqY
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
Opens Twitter: why is my entire feed obsessed with a raccoon?
5 minutes later: come on buddy, you can do it!
10 minutes later: will no one save the poor raccoon?!#mprraccoon
— Euqinomist (@Euqinomist) June 13, 2018
Brave #MPRRaccoon on the move laterally, so scary pic.twitter.com/Z6eArX7Mt5
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) June 13, 2018
Finally, on Wednesday, the raccoon made it to the top of the building (not before becoming the biggest social media star of 2018).
The #mprraccoon is scaling down the side of the building right now and I’m about to have a nervous breakdown.
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) June 13, 2018
Me following the updates of the #mprraccoon pic.twitter.com/U4S07Aba6e
— Joseph Boeding (@JoeBoeding) June 13, 2018
#mprraccoon my emotions throughout these past hours: pic.twitter.com/VwwidCMpas
— Haley Forté (@mthoughtsrablog) June 13, 2018
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
HE MADE IT #mprraccoon pic.twitter.com/DC7LsZ2EZP
— Joel Neill (@joelneill) June 13, 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
— D.P. (@DPet_KARE11News) June 13, 2018
Rescue workers were stationed at the top of the building ready to aid and trap the critter, so it’s likely safe and sound at this point. However, we’ve yet to receive a response from its spokesperson.
Feature image: Anna Salisbury via Unsplash
