A masked bandit quickly realized it was in over its head in Duluth earlier this week - and police officers came to the rescue.

This contortionist raccoon ended up bottoms-up in a sewer grate in the East Hillside neighborhood, but Duluth police officers and public works personnel were able to free the animal from its awkward predicament.

Officer Dan Kerfeld took the photo before the raccoon was freed - no one, animal or human, was injured in that endeavor. Officer Rob Hurst shared the photo on Twitter on Friday.

We don't know how the raccoon got into its jam. Perhaps it was attempting to stage a production of Stephen King's "It" with woodland creatures?

Whatever the case, we can only assume it had one thought as it awaited rescue: "Oh, grate."