A raccoon that became an internet sensation by scaling a 25-story office tower in downtown St. Paul was safely trapped early Wednesday, and animal control officials were preparing to release it back into the wild.

Chelsey DeMers, assistant general manager of Wildlife Management Services, said the raccoon was caught in a live trap baited with cat food on the roof of UBS Plaza before dawn Wednesday. Wildlife Management Services provides animal control services for St. Paul.

DeMers said the raccoon was in good condition and able to eat.


Top floor law firm @donnelly_law says UBS building management has told them the #mprraccoon formerly in their window HAS BEEN TRAPPED. — Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018

A company technician was expected to set it free later in the day at a site yet to be determined, DeMers said. The company would need permission to release it on public property, she said, but could also set it free on private property north of the Twin Cities.

Onlookers and reporters tracked the raccoon’s progress Tuesday as it scaled the UBS Tower. By early Wednesday, the animal made it to the roof, where St. Paul Animal Control had placed cat food and a trap in hopes of enticing the animal to safety.

The raccoon’s adventures have caused a stir on social media, with many Twitter users voicing concern for its safety or joking about the drama surrounding the animal’s exploits. Minnesota Public Radio, from a building less than a block away, branded the raccoon #mprraccoon.


UPDATES:

7:35 a.m.: This article was updated with details on how the raccoon was trapped.

This article was originally published at 5:40 a.m.