Critter’s incredible crane crawl
Tory doesn’t underestimate animal’s intelligence, but is sure he’ll outsmart them
"While they may be able to climb a crane, I’m confident they’re not going to be able to get into the green boxes.” MAYOR JOHN TORY
A fearless raccoon who climbed more than 200 metres up a crane in Toronto briefly became Twitter-famous on Thursday after his photo was tweeted by a tower crane operator.
Rob MacFarlane, known for posting photos of the breathtaking views he’s often exposed to on the job, took a photo of the raccoon clutching a ladder, looking a little apprehensive, with his eyes wide open.
Many people expressed concern for the animal’s safety, but MacFarlane reassured everyone that it got back down unhurt, and that it was just as brave on its way down.
“They are the tortoise in the story,” MacFarlane told the Star. “Not so fast, but efficient.”
The raccoon had made the 213-metre climb overnight and was waiting for MacFarlane when he arrived at work.
When he got close, the raccoon stared at him blankly and hissed a bit. Seemingly annoyed by MacFarlane’s presence, it then confidently made his descent to the ground.
Surprisingly, this was not the first time MacFarlane has encountered a raccoon so high off the ground, he said on Twitter.
This was only his second face-toface incident, but he has seen “evi- dence” multiple times before.
“It’s not unusual,” he said. “Raccoons seem to like cranes.”
Last week, Mayor John Tory unveiled new green bins that he hopes will outsmart Toronto’s raccoons.
Instead of the silver latch that raccoons easily pop by knocking over the bin, the proposed new model features a turn-dial that locks the lid closed.
The mayor admitted Thursday that although the city may have raccoon-proofed the new garbage receptacles, cranes are altogether a different story.
“I have not for a moment, ever, for one second, underestimated the intelligence, the ingenuity and the determination of the raccoons in the sort of ongoing skirmishes we are having with them.
“But I would say while they may be able to climb a crane, I’m confident they’re not going to be able to get into the green boxes. We’re ready to roll them out and take them on in that regard.
“As for climbing a crane, I don’t think that seems to be a widespread problem,” he said. With files from Wendy Gillis and David Rider