Head stuck in the gutter? Raccoon rescued from storm drain

By Dean Murray

It was a rocky time for this raccoon - after it got its head stuck in a storm drain grate.

Rescue workers from several agencies in Cambridge, MA, worked to release the hapless critter.

Thankfully, a nearby resident was able to supply some slippery olive oil and the raccoon was safely released back to the wild.

Cambridge Fire Department said: "Several city agencies worked together to rescue a raccoon, whose head was totally stuck in a street storm drain grate at the end of Harvey Street in North Cambridge.

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"This was a long duration rescue but thankfully, the raccoon was freed without harm. The lucky raccoon was checked by Animal Control staff, hydrated and released into the urban wildlife area.

"Thank you also to the helpful neighbor who supplied the olive oil to help slide the raccoon's head through the narrow grate opening.

"The rescue effort was initiated thanks to observant Fire Prevention staff who were on the street doing early morning commercial fire inspections in the area and noticed the stuck raccoon."

"In the total team effort, members of Cambridge Animal Control, Cambridge Public Works, Rescue Company 1, Tech Services, & Fire Prevention staff worked together to get the job done."

The raccoon was hydrated and released into the urban wildlife area in the incident on 1 August.