A viral video of a raccoon playing in falling snow is melting hearts around the globe. The nocturnal critter was captured playing by a security camera at the home of Washington state resident Timothy Ellis.
Ellis said he was working at home when the camera suddenly revealed a masked figure sneaking around in the yard. Instantly, he was not panicked but rather amused.
“[He] started pawing at the sky,” Ellis narrated. “When I realized he was actually chasing snowflakes, my main thought was that I definitely needed to save this video, because I knew other people would enjoy seeing it. It’s definitely not something you see every day.”
It wasn’t the first time Ellis had captured wildlife on his cameras, saying that visits like these were all-too-common in his part of the country. Of course, he wasn’t quite prepared for what he’d witness next.
Take a look at the video that is pulling heartstrings for all the right reasons.
“It’s easy to get used to ‘city animals’ that we see a lot, and basically tune them out as background noise,” Ellis said of his encounter. “It’s fun to catch a moment like this, and remember that even wild animals can have fun and show some personality.”
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MyModernNet added that the raccoon finding Ellis’ setup was fortuitous. He is an “avid videographer,” so capturing the 27-second clip meant he had the means and ability to share the video with the rest of the world.
Ellis, who had set the security camera on his deck, decided to share the 27-second clip online after noticing the sweet scene. An avid videographer, he shares footage showing what daily life looks like in Everett. “I’m not a professional ‘YouTuber,’” he writes, “but I do make quite a bit of video with my phone, my drone, my GoPro, my security cameras, and my dashcam.” However, none is as adorable as the one starring the wintry trash panda.
Several comments below the video on YouTube echoed sentiments felt by many who have seen the short clip.
“Love how animals can appreciate the little things in life,” one viewer commented.
“Their tiny moments of joy. We humans should learn to do the same. Perhaps we would be happier as a species, if we did?” another stated.
Digital Camera World got in on the action as well, adding its own narration to the sweet encounter with the wonderfully playful raccoon.
For 27 seconds, the raccoon tries (and fails) to collect snowflakes before running off into the night. Raccoons are commonly known as trash pandas due to the dark markings around their eyes and their tendency to rummage around in garbage in urban areas. Usually, raccoons aren’t associated with snow, so this footage provides a refreshing, endearing look into the lives of these large mammals.
Featured image; Screen shot from embedded YouTube video.