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Raccoon Tales: When a Critter Scaled the Capitol Dome

That time when a raccoon took shelter from crows on the Dome

On May 31, 2000, Capitol workers found a lone raccoon marooned on the Dome. He is pictured here on the Senate side of the Capitol. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
On May 31, 2000, Capitol workers found a lone raccoon marooned on the Dome. He is pictured here on the Senate side of the Capitol. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
By Jason Dick
Posted June 13, 2018 at 11:08am

Wednesday’s raccoon adventures in Minnesota reminded the Roll Call crew of way back in May 2000, when we were alerted to a Procyon lotor’s scaling of the Capitol Dome. He likely was looking for a bird’s nest, but then took refuge in the Dome’s columns after crows started dive-bombing him. 

Racoon.2(TW) 053100 --Bruce Tinkham of the Aulson Co. displays a racoon after it had been captured form the Capitol's dome.
Bruce Tinkham of the Aulson Co. helped secure the raccoon from the Dome. (CQ Roll Call file photo)

Eventually, Capitol workers and D.C. Animal Shelter captured the raccoon and helped him down off the Dome to safety. 

Racoon.6(TW) 053100 --Sonya Schoor and Ted Deppner of the DC Animal Shelter escorts a racoon off the Capitol grounds after it had climbed up onto the dome.
Sonya Schoor and Ted Deppner of the DC Animal Shelter escorts a raccoon off the Capitol grounds after it had climbed up onto the Dome. (CQ Roll Call file photo)

No word on whether the raccoon, let’s call him Rodney?, eventually made his way to Minnesota. 

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