In a bizarre twist that has the internet buzzing, the overnight crew at Local 12 (WKRC-TV) in Cincinnati discovered they had a masked squatter secretly living among them. On February 24, 2026, staff members were stunned to find a raccoon rummaging through the newsroom, sparking a wave of hilarious social media reactions. The furry intruder, who had likely snuck in to escape the brutal winter freeze, has since been dubbed the station’s newest "night-shift producer" by amused employees.
The Great Newsroom Discovery
The incident began during the quiet overnight hours when the station's skeleton crew noticed suspicious noises coming from the editorial area. Initially suspecting a human intruder or perhaps a very dedicated intern, the team was shocked to find a raccoon casually digging through a trash can. Chief Meteorologist John Gumm later took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the absurdity, noting that employees had "suspected someone had broken into @Local12 and had been secretly living inside the station."
Video footage credited to station engineer Noah Schuler shows the animal—now affectionately known as the "trash panda producer"—fearlessly exploring the control room and nearly toppling a garbage bin in search of a midnight snack. The clip quickly went viral, capturing the creature's determined efforts to find food while the human staff watched from a safe distance, trading nervous laughter.
Viral Fame and "New Hire" Jokes
Rather than panicking, the Local 12 team embraced the chaos. Anchor Meghan Mongillo joked on Facebook that the station had finally filled its vacancy, writing, "Local 12 has a new employee helping us put the show on the air." The comment section exploded with viewers asking if the raccoon had received its official ID badge or if it was demanding better craft services.
Social media users have flooded the station's accounts with memes, suggesting the raccoon was just trying to break the latest scoop on neighborhood dumpster diving or was working hard to meet the morning deadline. The incident has provided a much-needed moment of levity, proving that even in a high-pressure news environment, there is always room for a little wild entertainment.
How Did a Raccoon Get In?
Wildlife experts suggest the raccoon likely entered the building seeking warmth during the recent drop in temperatures. Raccoons are notoriously clever urban survivors, capable of squeezing through small openings and navigating complex structures to find shelter. The National Park Service notes that these "masked bandits" often view large, heated buildings as ideal winter dens, especially if there is an accessible food source nearby—like a newsroom break room trash can.
While the visitor was certainly cute from a distance, station management did the responsible thing. Staff alerted local animal control authorities to ensure the animal could be safely removed and relocated back to a more appropriate habitat. No humans or raccoons were harmed during the impromptu "take your wildlife to work" day.
A History of Animal Newsroom Invasions
This isn't the first time a wild animal has tried to anchor the news. In recent years, viral videos have captured everything from birds flying across weather maps to stray cats wandering onto live sets. However, a raccoon effectively moving in and "living" at the station takes the cake for persistence. The incident serves as a funny reminder that as urban areas expand, our interactions with local wildlife are becoming increasingly common—and occasionally, televised.
For now, the Local 12 newsroom has returned to normal operations, though staff admit they are double-checking under their desks before settling in. As for the raccoon, its brief career in broadcasting may be over, but its legacy as the internet's favorite unpaid intern is secure.
