WATSONVILLE, CA (NBC NEWS) - Volunteer emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue a raccoon from a storm drain in California.
At about 3 a.m a homeless man in Watsonville called police after he heard grunts and cries coming from a drain.
Officials came to investigate and found a raccoon stuck inside.
The police, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, and the Watsonville Fire Department all came to help but couldn't get the animal out.
The Emergency Wildlife Services was then called and the team worked for hours digging to reach the raccoon in the pipe.
Finally rescuers pulled the raccoon free barely alive.
The raccoon was taken to a veterinarian but sadly, after all their work, the raccoon did not survive.
The vet believes the animal was stuck for more than 24 hours. The animal died of hypothermia and severe dehydration.
