When was this published?

This article was first published on July 21, 2026 by Star Tribune and curated for The Minneapolis readers.

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This story was reported by Star Tribune.

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Anything Jimothy can do, the MPR raccoon did better

Summary by The Minneapolis Editorial Desk · Based on reporting from Star Tribune · July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

The MPR Raccoon scaled a 25-story skyscraper eight years ago, paving the way for other viral varmints.

Why this matters in The Minneapolis

The MPR Raccoon's daring ascent of a 25-story skyscraper eight years ago has become an enduring part of Minneapolis lore, symbolizing the city's affection for plucky wildlife. This incident also underscores the urban wildlife management challenges faced by city officials, who must balance the needs of both humans and animals in a densely populated area like the Twin Cities. As the city continues to grow and develop, it's likely that more wildlife will be pushed into urban areas, leading to potential conflicts with humans. The MPR Raccoon's legendary climb may have been an isolated incident, but it foreshadows the need for Minneapolis to develop effective strategies for coexisting with its furry and feathered neighbors. The city's response to future wildlife encounters will be closely watched, particularly in areas where development is encroaching on natural habitats.

About this story

Original reporting by Star Tribune. The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit Star Tribune. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 21, 2026 · Source: Star Tribune · Reading time: 1 min

Summary created by	The Minneapolis Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Star Tribune
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 21, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 21, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Anything Jimothy can do, the MPR raccoon did better

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