Raccoons are nocturnal creatures and usually try to keep out of sight. But one found itself in a very vulnerable position Friday morning — atop a tree on Water Street.

A passerby saw the large raccoon hanging out in the tree, near Blount Fine Foods, just after 9:30 a.m. It appeared to be stuck so he called Warren Animal Control Officer Mike Briggs, who also called wildlife officials at the state DEM.

“It looked healthy. They (DEM) said it’s a very good sign that it’s up in the tree,” Office Briggs said. “If it was rabid, it would probably be so weak that it wouldn’t have been able to climb up it.”

Officer Briggs went out to check on the animal but decided to let it be. He said it will probably come down on its own when nobody is around.