Fearless raccoon conquers US skyscraper

AMERICA breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after a scruffy brown raccoon was captured safe and sound following a perilous climb up a skyscraper in the northern state of Minnesota.

Thousands of Twitter users followed the escapades of the raccoon as it slowly inched up the side of the UBS Plaza building in St Paul.

Minnesota Public Radio reporters and occupants of the building posted pictures and updates on the animal as it scaled the rough surface of the skyscraper storey by storey.

A television station provided a live stream of the anxiety-producing journey of the animal, which apparently had been scared by construction workers at the building’s base.

Hollywood director James Gunn offered to donate $1 000 (R13 200) to charity in the name of anyone who saved the raccoon.

“I can’t handle this,” Gunn, the director of the two Guardians of the Galaxy movies, tweeted. “Poor dude.”

The raccoon paused at several points, taking naps before continuing onward. It reached the roof well after midnight and was captured in a trap set by wildlife control officials.

“After a delicious meal of soft cat food, #mprraccoon has been caught and will be picked up by Wildlife Management. Goodbye friend!” the building’s managers said in a tweet.

Wildlife Management Services later posted a video of the raccoon scampering off into the suburbs. – AFP