Weekend Heroes: Michigan Men Save Choking Raccoon

A friendly raccoon got more than he bargained for when scrounging for snacks at a Michigan cookout last weekend. Thanks to the quick thinking of three friends, this woodland visitor lived to raid trash cans another day.

An Unexpected Cookout Guest

Bill, John, and Tyler were enjoying their Saturday cookout when they noticed a raccoon wandering around their gathering. The little visitor, whom they affectionately named Rocket, wasn't causing any trouble, so the men let him explore before he eventually wandered away.

About 20 minutes later, Rocket returned—but something was wrong.

A Raccoon in Distress

Tyler noticed that Rocket was acting strange. The raccoon stood on his hind legs and raised his front paws in the air. It seemed as if he was trying to signal that he was choking.

Apparently, during his brief absence, Rocket had found a campfire snack in a nearby trash can. Unfortunately, he had bitten off more than he could chew—a piece of cheese had become lodged in his throat.

Emergency Raccoon First Aid

Bill immediately jumped into action. His first instinct was to help the wild raccoon by slapping him repeatedly on the back.

Meanwhile, Tyler—who somehow knew the proper technique for a raccoon Heimlich maneuver—coached Bill through the process.

"A little bit lower, Bill. Upward notch," Tyler instructed.

Tyler's advice proved effective. Within moments, the troublesome piece of cheese flew out of Rocket's mouth, saving the day.

A Thankful Return

After his rescue, Rocket wandered off, perhaps to recover from his mild embarrassment. But reports indicate he returned later that evening to spend more time with his new human friends who had saved his life.

Who knew a simple cookout would turn into a wildlife rescue mission? Thanks to these quick-thinking Michigan men, Rocket the raccoon can continue his neighborhood adventures—hopefully with more caution when sampling discarded cheese in the future.