Moose Jaw's James Hochban was given a Friday morning surprise. 

In a report to the Discover Moose Jaw "Submit News" feature, the resident of High Park Towers on High Street East said he was in back of the apartment complex around 6 a.m. and "heard a noise coming from a garbage bin across the alley."

Hochban says he investigated and found a "raccoon trying to get out."  Hochban says he then "found a length of 2x2, put it in the bin and (the raccoon) climbed to freedom."

The Moose Jaw Humane Society (MJHS) says Hochban did the right thing in allowing the critter out of the dumpster ("if they can't get out they could die") and added there are some things to keep in mind if you encounter a raccoon, depending on the location. 

"A raccoon living in a shed or garage from January to September should ALWAYS be assumed to be a mother with babies," said Dana Haukaas of the MJHS, who responded to our request for information on how to deal with a raccoon. "Be careful, as you don’t want to orphan the baby raccoons. Raccoons are excellent mothers and will move their babies to a new den site when frightened, but evicting a mother raccoon always runs the risk that she might abandon or become separated from her babies."