A raccoon who climbed to fame earlier this month by scaling the 25 story UBS building in St. Paul, Minnesota, has died. He was 26 months old.
The MPR raccoon, or “Meerp” as he came to be known, became a viral sensation after security cameras recorded his daredevil antics. Cheered on by animal lovers and urban free climbers around the world, Meerp ascended the UBS building in record time. He next journeyed to New York where he climbed the Empire State Building.
Park Rangers investigating the matter said Meerp was on vacation on the Outer Banks preparing for his next stunt. He had gone out the morning of June 19th for what should have been an easy warm-up climb of the Wright Memorial. Upon reaching the top of the monument he was snatched by a passing osprey.
“He was a true ambassador for raccoons everywhere,” said famed actor Rocket Raccoon. “He showed a side of our species that wasn’t all about raiding trash cans and stealing prosthetics. We miss you, buddy.”