Toronto woman scoops raccoon up and away from traffic during harrowing rescue
Toronto undoubtedly has a reputation for its raccoon population, but the city has had what feels like even more trash panda-related antics than usual lately, with the critters ending up in some pretty dangerous places they definitely shouldn't be, fromatop construction cranestobehind the countersof popular coffee shop chains.
Earlier this week, one raccoon was saved from wandering into traffic byan unlikely hero on a Segway, who simply grabbed the furry friend by the scruff of the neck and transported them away from the road near Keele and Dundas.
And now, another similar incident has taken place, this time at King and Shaw Streets in the downtown core.
A confused raccoon was spotted wandering at King & Shaw - Nadia Wilhttps://t.co/WGTMrf9gKO#Toronto#TorontoRaccoon#Raccoonpic.twitter.com/CpF3gMYv8b
— blogTO (@blogTO)October 29, 2020
对居民设法捕捉视频of one seemingly lost and disoriented raccoon from her condo window as pedestrians tried to prevent it from sure vehicular death.
Bystanders tried to coax the raccoon away from passing cars - Nadia Wilhttps://t.co/WGTMrf9gKO#Toronto#TorontoRaccoon#Raccoonpic.twitter.com/SYydQaTk1B
— blogTO (@blogTO)October 29, 2020
As passersby tried to shoo the raccoon away from oncoming traffic, it meandered in and out of safety, confused.
But the raccoon ended up in the middle of traffic - Nadia Wilhttps://t.co/WGTMrf9gKO#Toronto#TorontoRaccoon#Raccoonpic.twitter.com/wMIaYqxxqv
— blogTO (@blogTO)October 29, 2020
At one point, it was fully in the road, with one dedicated Good Samaritan following it closely to ensure it didn't get smushed.
Someone finally managed to get the stubborn raccoon off of the road - Nadia Wilhttps://t.co/WGTMrf9gKO#Toronto#TorontoRaccoon#Raccoonpic.twitter.com/0fySqdmvzN
— blogTO (@blogTO)October 29, 2020
She eventually corralled the creature up against a storefront and threw her coat over it in order to gather it up and carry it off to somewhere out of harm's way.
The woman ended up throwing her coat over them in a daring rescue - Nadia Wilhttps://t.co/WGTMrf9gKO#Toronto#TorontoRaccoon#Raccoonpic.twitter.com/5mHOKHAE3l
— blogTO (@blogTO)October 29, 2020
Based on how slow-moving and out of it the animal was, filmer Nadia Wil aptly speculates that it may have haddistemper, a virus that is unfortunately common among trash pandas in Toronto. Wandering aimlessly in unnatural places and at midday and seeming "drunk" are two telltale signs.
"It circled around the intersection for hours causing a few traffic jams," Wil told blogTO. "People tried guiding it away from the intersection, but then others kept guiding it back".
Though the kindhearted raccoon rescuer in the clips had the best intentions at heart, it isnot always the best idea to trap and relocate a raccoon, for your own safety and theirs.
If the animal does indeed have Canine Distemper, the best option is to calla local wildlife centre(Ontario Wildlife Rescuehas a good list) and/or 311, who will dispatch the appropriate personnel to pick up the animal and, sadly but mercifully, likely euthanize it.
According to Wil, the raccoon in this case was brought to a slightly less busy area, where it was then monitored by two police officers on the scene.
Though there is no cure for distemper, hopefully the little guy somehow ended up alright.
nidigreedy on Facebook
Join the conversationLoadcomments