NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS — A raccoon found himself in a bit of a tight spot after a too-tiny sewer grate got in the way of freedom.

On Wednesday, the Northampton Police Department posted photos on their social media accounts showing the poor stuck animal. Folks at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts chanced upon the critter and figured he needed a hand.

The little guy’s head was poking out from a hole in a sewer grate, and he looked absolutely distraught, so an Animal Control officer was called in to help get him unstuck.

She lifted the metal grate out first and used some cooking oil to get the raccoon’s head free. She eventually managed to free the poor fella, who looked like he was still reeling from the shock when he was wrapped in a towel.

Though probably greasy, the adorable raccoon was unharmed, and most importantly, free!