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Local raccoon rescue video will be on Animal Planet Sunday

A raccoon that got its head caught in a peanut-butter jar last winter was rescued by local residents. A segment on the rescue will air Sunday, 9 p.m., on the cable TV program Animal Planet.

Marshall Gorby/Springfield News-Sun A raccoon that got its head caught in a peanut-butter jar last winter was rescued by local residents. A segment on the rescue will air Sunday, 9 p.m., on the cable TV program Animal Planet.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Video: Raccoon with head stuck in jar rescued from tree

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer Updated 5:42 PM Thursday, October 15, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — The rescue of a raccoon with its head stuck in a peanut butter jar caught on tape last winter will air on Animal Planet this Sunday, local officials announced Thursday, Oct. 15.

The footage, along with an interview of Humane Society of Clark County Executive Director Jimmy Straley, will be featured on “Untamed and Uncut” 9 p.m. (EST) Sunday, Oct. 18.

Straley got an e-mail from one of the show’s producers confirming the date Wednesday afternoon.

The Feb. 18 rescue was caught on tape by News-Sun Chief Photographer Marshall Gorby.

The dramatic footage shows the local rescuers cutting the branch in the tree where the raccoon was stranded at 17 Elm Road in Crystal Lakes.

The raccoon sailed through the air as the branch was cut; another man caught the critter, then Humane Society officials and local law enforcement pulled the jar off the animal’s head and caged it.

Straley said though the rescuers were not injured and were trying to help, the video is actually an example of what not to do regarding a wild animal.

“The best thing to do is call a professional so nobody gets hurt,” he said. “I commend the rescuers for what they did, but people should realize that you shouldn’t approach a wild animal.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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Shame on you Polly Graf!!

No need to blame others for your poor choices.

Time to move on...

Momma Bear
5:21 PM, 10/16/2009

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ROFLMAO @ Ben
I don't mean to laugh at this, but I kept thinking that raccoon must've been so confused. He's trying to get a snack all for himself, and then some guys are poking a stick at him trying to get him out of the tree, then it's a wrestling match and he loses and winds up in a cage. lol I'll have to remember to call these guys the next time we have a raccoon in our attic. Happens all the time, unfortunately. :)

Michelle
3:46 PM, 10/16/2009

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What a great thing to happen to the Humane Society! And what a change they've made in the last few months! I don't know why people like "polly graf" have to find something negative to say on such a positive story!

Mary Jo
12:51 PM, 10/16/2009

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Straley didn't tell what they did with the raccoon after the video. Ohio law doesn't allow relocation of raccoons because of disease concerns. You must release on the same property or euthanize. Humane Society officials caged it to take it...where? Maybe Jimmy saved that part of the story for his worldwide TV debut. Unless he'd rather not say.

polly graf
1:06 AM, 10/16/2009

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after they pulled his head out, he ran off in a JIFFY...

ben
9:59 PM, 10/15/2009

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