Here a raccoon climbs up a UBS skyscraper

This past Monday, a raccoon in Minnesota (USA) set off to climb a skyscraper. The remarkable thing: two days later, the raccoon was still at it. And the whole world was on the edge of its seat.

As MPR News reported, it all started when the raccoon climbed onto a building ledge in the city during the night before Monday, most likely in search of pigeon nests.

There it remained for the entire day on Monday without water or anything to eat, apparently frightened by the noise of the big city.

The people observing the raccoon called the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and animal welfare services. They constructed a kind of wooden trestle to help the raccoon climb back down. But the frightened raccoon took flight, climbed over to the neighboring 23-story UBS Plaza, and began its ascent.

The raccoon repeatedly paused on window ledges. At one point it had already climbed up to the 23rd floor, then climbed back down to the 17th, only to head back up again.

The whole story attracted so much media attention that a live stream was even set up. Onlookers, journalists, and people who work in the skyscraper posted pictures and thoughts about the poor raccoon.

The Minnesota fire department advised against sending a person up to rescue the animal, saying it was too dangerous for both humans and the animal. People inside the building were also asked not to open windows to bring the animal in — it could become so frightened that it might fall.

At some point, rescuers realized they would not be able to get the raccoon to climb back down.

On the roof, the raccoon was captured using cat food in a live trap. It can now receive medical care.

Update 14.6.2018: The raccoon is reportedly doing well.