Fla. deputy helps raccoon with head stuck in jar

[September 03, 2009]  PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) -- A Gulf Coast raccoon has a sheriff's deputy to thank for helping him out of a sticky situation.

 The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was alerted to the distressed critter Wednesday morning. A fitness instructor reported seeing the raccoon with his head stuck in a jar at a Palm Harbor elementary school parking lot, about 25 miles north of St. Petersburg.

A deputy responded to the scene and was able to gently approach the animal. Authorities said he managed to pull the peanut butter jar off and set the raccoon free.

Both the animal and the deputy escaped unharmed.

[Associated Press]

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