SF Firefighters Rescue Baby Raccoon And Name Him 'Freedom'

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Firefighters rescued a baby raccoon that was stuck in a tree in San Francisco Saturday. And in light of the election, firefighters named him "Freedom."

Residents reported loud shrieks from an animal in the area of 15th Avenue at Santiago Street Saturday. After San Francisco Animal Care and Control struggled to help the small raccoon, the San Francisco Fire Department was summoned.

Firefighters were quickly briefed by San Francisco Animal Control on how to calm and comfort the raccoon before going up the tree.

As firefighters reached the animal in the large tree, they found that it was wedged into a V-split in the tree branches, the department said on Twitter Saturday.

2/3 They then went to work freeing the baby raccoon from a V split in a large tree, where somehow the raccoon had become wedged in. After a few minutes of rescue work, the raccoon was free only to clutch and hold onto the firefighters- pic.twitter.com/YWbyhUg3Jj
— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) November 8, 2020

"After a few minutes of rescue work, the raccoon was free only to clutch and hold onto the firefighters who had just saved its life," the department said on its Twitter account. "In light of recent events, we have named him - FREEDOM."

Freedom the raccoon is now in the care of San Francisco Animal Care and Control. The baby will be released "to continue its life, with a few new friends who will always be there if needed," the department said on Twitter.