ryerson raccoon pool

Toronto raccoon shuts down Ryerson swimming pool

Earth's most-innovative little critter continues to surprise and delight the people of Toronto with its undeniably adorable (albeit sometimes inconvenient) urban antics.

A raccoon who clearly gives no effs about what you think found a new spot to nap at Ryerson University on Wednesday: on top of a sign that's on top of a door that leads into a theatre, gym and learning space.

Due to the animal's presence, the school was forced to close off Kerr Hall North, Ryerson Theatre, and the Recreation and Athletics Centre's swimming pool area.

Ryerson University Recreation wrote on Twitter around 9:30 a.m. that it was closing off the area for safety reasons — presumably referring to the safety of both humans and the raccoon.

It wasn't until around noon that RU Recreation announced the raccoon's safe removal from the premises.

"Update: our raccoon friend is gone and the RAC back turnstile is good to use again," wrote the recreation centre on Twitter. "For now."

No word on where the woodland creature was taken, but he did appear to be enjoying that makeshift sign hammock — and if I know raccoons (which I do), he'll be back.

Lead photo by

Ryerson Recreation


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Sports & Play

Toronto Blue Jays star Vladdy Guerrero Jr. drops cryptic messages amid contract drama

Canadian hockey fans boo U.S. anthem after being specifically told not to

Brampton NBA player Tristan Thompson in heated feud with Toronto Raptors

Raptors' new star Brandon Ingram already in love with Toronto food scene

Legendary Toronto Maple Leafs announcer passes away

Marineland park in Ontario planning to finally remove all marine mammals

Toronto Raptors legend Kyle Lowry crashes Super Bowl party in Philadelphia

You can get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Rogers Centre in Toronto