Cultured raccoon creeps into Scarborough high school's art class
'He did not have time to get into the paint,' art teacher says
A Toronto raccoon seemingly sought sophistication in its Wednesday morning escapade and crept into an art classroom at R.H. King Academy.
Mark Tufford, an art teacher at the Scarborough high school, arrived at work shortly after 8 a.m. to prepare for the day.
It's real. Thanks for the pic Ms. Mansfield! There was a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/raccoon?src=hash">#raccoon</a> in the art room this AM! <a href="https://twitter.com/tdsb">@tdsb</a> <a href="https://t.co/sy9EfmFv0l">pic.twitter.com/sy9EfmFv0l</a>
—@RHKINGartsHe opened the windows and left the room, only to return to the critter perched on a desk, "looking at me."
"It was mostly disbelief," Tufford said of the sight. "It was definitely a story to tell."
"He was sitting on a table. I could see him clearly through the window of the door."
Tufford locked the classroom door and informed the main office.
"The raccoon was terrified," he said.
"King" the raccoon later sought refuge in a supplies cabinet, Tufford said.
More <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KingRaccoon?src=hash">#KingRaccoon</a> pics! <a href="https://twitter.com/krushowy">@krushowy</a> <a href="https://t.co/VZRDf6c6H7">pic.twitter.com/VZRDf6c6H7</a>
—@RHKINGarts"That was the raccoon sort of trying to evade capture. It took the high ground."
Animal services arrived to see the critter out.
Alas, there were no raccoon masterpieces left behind.
"He did not have time to get into the paint," Tufford said.
These green bin scavengers have scurried into several adventures in Toronto lately.
A free ride
A "downtown freeloader" hitched a ride on a GO Train.
A doughnut heist
A raccoon was caught on video stealthily descending from a coffee-shop ceiling to cop a doughnut.
A morning commute
A raccoon decided to take the subway for at least one part of its morning commute, opting to walk for the latter half.