Raccoon on subway stops Torontonians in their tracks

Toronto commuters were stopped in their tracks Friday morning when an intrepid raccoon made its way into the subway tunnel, causing TTCto delay service.

A subwayoperator steeringa train on the Yonge-University line spotted a raccoon makingits way onto the tracksshortly before 9:30 a.m.as he approachedBloor-YongeStation.The animal was walking along the catwalk, according to TTCspokesperson Brad Ross.

This isn'tthe first time a raccoon has tried to ride the subway. Toronto has been dubbed "raccoon city" after a few incidents with the animals in the past.

• Raccoon tries to catch the subway at Spadina station

The subway operator stopped the train and called the TTC's transit control centre who advised the trainproceed slowly into the station, said Ross.

By this time, the raccoon had made its way to theplatform andproceeded to board the train before station staff removed it.

"The raccoon was very calm, it didn't try to run away," explainedRoss. "We brought him into the back room and placed him, appropriately, in a garbage bin."

The raccoon was then handed off to Toronto Animal Services,who caged it for safe release.

"He didn't have proof of payment, so that's a problem," said Ross.

Ross says thearea north of Bloorand Yonge Streetnear Rosedale Ravine LandsPark is"open cut" and exposed. He suspects the raccoon may have come from there.

Torontonians posted their reactions online, including Mayor John Tory and Coun. Janet Daviswho praised TTCstaff for taking care of the raccoon.