Flight Instructor Carries Raccoon to Safety Using Shovel

Storyful

A raccoon was transported to safety by a flight instructor after it was found sitting near the runway of the Burlington Executive Airport in Ontario, Canada, on March 4.

Footage shows William Birchall, a flight instructor at the airport, walking towards a line of trees while carrying a shovel with a raccoon perched atop.

Birchall told Storyful that instructors at the airport had been cleaning snow off the airport runway following a big storm the previous night when they found the raccoon sitting in the area between the runway and taxiway.

Despite their efforts to persuade the raccoon to leave the area, the animal did not budge. Birchall eventually scooped the raccoon with a large shovel and moved him to the woods by the school entrance and offered up some granola bars.

“I’m aware that feeding/interfering with wild animals is something that should be avoided. However, when you see an animal suffering, it’s difficult to not want to at least give them a chance,” Birchall said. Credit: William Birchall via Storyful

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