Concerned members of the Austin, Texas community noticed a raccoon in distress, and the Austin Firefighters Association moved in quickly to help.
The little-masked-bandits that are more formally known as raccoons often use the hollow cavities of tree trunks as dens. The elevated living space provides shelter, safety, and a place to raise their young. But the entryway to those hollowed-out trunks aren’t always as the largest, and as you’ll see in this video below, entering and exiting can be easier said than done.
This raccoon was trying to enter into its tree home (sure, you can call it a tree house if you want) when it unexpectedly got its noggin’ stuck in the tree’s opening. It tried with all of its might to get out on its own, but the little guy wasn’t having any luck. And it made enough racket in the process to get the attention of those passing by.
A quick call to the fire department sent Austin’s finest to the rescue. They assessed the situation playing out high up in the tree, and had just the tool to help free this small animal. That’s right… they used the “jaws of life” to save the raccoon with its head lodged inside the tree. As you might imagine, the famous, life-saving tool did just the trick.
With a couple of firefighters on ladders, and what sounds like many more on the ground leading the operation, the good guys got to work. One man had the jaws working to open up the hole in the tree, while another had clamps on the raccoon (there was even a net being held by someone, in case the raccoon were to fall). Once the tool pried open the entryway enough, they were able to get the raccoon unstuck and safely removed.
Check it out:
“When a concerned neighbor called 911 about a raccoon with its head stuck in the hollow of a tree, Austin firefighters answered the call. Using some quick thinking, ladders, and the tools they carry on the job every day, crews were able to free the raccoon and get it safely out of a sticky situation.”
That’s great work by the Austin Firefighters.
It looks like the raccoon was rather cooperative during the rescue. You can hear one firefighter say the raccoon was “out” as they pulled it from the tree. I’m not sure if it was just the stress of the situation, or if the firefighters possibly tranquilized it to aid in the removal… but regardless, they reported that it was rescued safely.
The post’s caption went on to talk about the creative way these firefighters saved the animal’s life:
“This rescue is a great example of what makes Austin firefighters such an important part of our community. The job goes beyond fighting fires and responding to emergencies. It’s about finding solutions, thinking outside the box, and using their training and equipment in creative ways to help those who need it—even when the one in trouble has four legs and a furry tail. Different call. Different rescue. Same commitment to the community.”
Shoutout to the Austin Firefighters, and all the other first responders out there who respond to each and every call for help – big or small.