Paddleboarders Pull Raccoon from Lady Bird Lake During Storm

Two Austin paddleboarders are drawing attention on social media after rescuing a raccoon struggling to stay afloat in Lady Bird Lake during severe weather Tuesday.

Tucker and Owen were fishing and recording video near the South Congress Avenue bridge when they spotted what they initially believed was a dog being swept out of a tunnel beneath the bridge by fast-moving water.

Using their cameras to get a closer look, the pair quickly realized the animal was a raccoon fighting against the current in the rain-swollen lake.

The paddleboarders immediately headed toward the animal as the current repeatedly pulled it underwater.

According to Tucker, the raccoon appeared exhausted and in danger of drowning as floodwaters surged through the area following heavy rainfall across Central Texas.

Tucker used his paddle to carefully lift the raccoon from the water and onto his paddleboard before making his way back to shore.

Video shared online shows the soaked raccoon crouching beneath Tucker's legs on the board as the pair paddled toward safety.

"He felt safe underneath me, I couldn't explain how that made me feel," Tucker told KXAN. "We then got him over, and he ran off without another look, nibble or sound."

The rescue occurred as Central Texas experienced heavy rain and rising water levels that prompted flood warnings and emergency preparations across the Austin area.

The video quickly spread across social media, with many viewers praising the pair for stepping in to help the stranded animal despite difficult conditions.

Wildlife experts generally advise people to avoid direct contact with wild animals whenever possible and instead contact animal rescue organizations or local authorities. However, in emergency situations involving immediate danger, Good Samaritan rescues occasionally occur.

As for the rescued raccoon, it wasted little time returning to dry ground and disappearing from sight once it reached shore.