You’ll want to stick around when a newsroom’s mystery intruder turns out to be a small, determined raccoon that slipped inside to escape the brutal winter cold. Local 12 staffers discovered the critter rifling through trash cans during a late-night shift, and the footage quickly became a viral, oddly charming moment for the station. The raccoon wasn’t a prank or a mascot — it was a real animal seeking shelter from freezing temperatures, and the team had to call authorities to handle the situation.
This piece unpacks how the raccoon likely found its way into the building, what staff did next, and what this incident reveals about raccoon behavior in cities during harsh weather. Expect a mix of eyewitness details from the Cincinnati station and practical insight into why urban wildlife often seeks refuge in human spaces.
The Cincinnati News Station Raccoon Saga
A raccoon quietly took up residence inside a Cincinnati television newsroom, prompting staff to track its movements, capture video, and share the moment online. The animal’s route, hiding spot, and the footage that followed drew local attention and a mix of amusement and concern.
Discovery of the Raccoon’s Hideout
Staff first noticed signs of an intruder after food went missing from a break area and a toppled trash can appeared near the engineering room. An engineer set up a phone to record overnight and later found footage of the raccoon rifling through garbage and slipping into a crawlspace behind set walls.
Facility managers inspected the crawlspace and found nesting material and small food remnants that confirmed the raccoon had been living there for days. They contacted local animal control to handle removal, citing safety concerns for both employees and the animal.
How the Raccoon Evaded Detection
The raccoon used narrow access points in building exterior vents and a seldom-used maintenance door to enter after hours. It favored areas with cluttered storage and loose insulation, which provided concealment and warmth during the recent cold snap…