Firefighters of Rostraver Township, a small suburban area in Pennsylvania, were surprised earlier this week when they got a call about a raccoon stuck in the grates of a storm drain.
First responders came to the scene just before 10 a.m. after a resident had already helped try to free the raccoon by wetting it down and using a small amount of Dawn dish soap, hoping to help it slip through the opening.
“They tried a few of those things, but nothing ultimately worked,” Rostraver Township Police Chief Scott Sokol told the Mon Valley Independent.
But even the professionals struggled to get the critter free, ultimately using the “Jaws of Life,” or a powerful hydraulic tool that cuts through metal and is often used to rescue people trapped in mangled vehicles.
Police, fire department crews, and the township’s public works department all assisted in the rescue.
With the Jaws of Life equipment, and other hand tools, they worked to cut just enough metal out of the way for the mammal to run free.
“They were able to get the grate out with him inside, cut it away and eventually freed it,” Sokol said. “As soon as it was free, it took off running.”
While the raccoon appeared eager to return home to its natural habitat, Sokol said it was surprisingly calm amid the rescue, refraining from hissing or growling.
The cause of the incident, Sokol believed, was that the raccoon climbed into the storm drain but became stuck in an attempt to climb back out.
“It was an odd call,” Sokol said. “Poor little fella. Nobody wanted to hurt it. We wanted a happy ending, and thanks to everyone working together, that’s exactly what we got.”
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Featured Image: Rostraver Township Fire Department/Facebook
