A raccoon was spotted at Citi Field in New York helping itself to food discarded by fans, reaching through a gap in the stands to grab peanut shells and a hotdog during the Mets' game against the San Diego Padres. The moment drew amused reactions from onlookers and offered a lighter distraction for supporters enduring a difficult season, with the Mets sitting last in their division despite fielding MLB's highest-paid roster.

The incident occurred on Wednesday and was captured on video, showing the animal reaching from beneath the stands to steal scraps before eventually making off with an entire hotdog. It follows a similar episode earlier in the season in which a squirrel ran onto the field during an MLB game and leapt into an outfielder's glove, adding to a run of unexpected animal appearances at ballparks this year.