Firefighters in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania, received an unusual call about a raccoon stuck in a storm drain grate. A resident had already tried to help the animal by wetting it down and using dish soap, hoping it would slip free. However, these attempts did not work.
A Tricky Rescue
First responders arrived to find the raccoon still trapped. Even the professionals struggled to free the animal. They ultimately decided to use the "Jaws of Life." This powerful hydraulic tool cuts through metal and is usually used to rescue people from car wrecks.
Police, fire crews, and the public works department all helped with the rescue. They used the Jaws of Life and other hand tools to cut just enough metal from the grate. This allowed the raccoon to run free.
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Rostraver Township Fire Department/Facebook
A Happy Ending
Rostraver Township Police Chief Scott Sokol said the raccoon was surprisingly calm during the rescue. It did not hiss or growl. As soon as it was free, it quickly ran off.
Rostraver Township Fire Department/Facebook
Sokol believes the raccoon climbed into the storm drain and then got stuck trying to climb back out. He called it an "odd call" but was glad for the teamwork. "Nobody wanted to hurt it," Sokol said. "We wanted a happy ending, and thanks to everyone working together, that’s exactly what we got."
