Having a blast at fun centers is probably one of the most memorable childhood adventures for every kid.

I mean, who among us didn’t like Pac-Man, Skee-Ball, Air Hockey, or the well-known Claw Machine… am I right? Remember the thrill after winning the best prizes, from stuffed animals to toy figures, candy, and snacks?

Now, imagine walking into an arcade to win one of those prizes, and instead of a regular one, you win an actual live furry animal!

Sounds unbelievable?

Well, that’s exactly what happened to one Pennsylvania girl during her claw machine rally!

What Is It

The girl was stunned when she noticed that one of the prizes at Meadows Family Fun Center was actually moving. She wasn’t quite sure what it was, but one thing was certain – this wasn’t an ordinary stuffed toy! This unusual mix-up made her point out an irregularity. 

The fun center staff was immediately called to the spot to investigate. Little did they know that instead of a stuffed toy, an actual live groundhog would appear! 

That’s right! A groundhog!

Shocked by what they just saw, the staff was confused about how this little furball ended up in the claw machine in the first place. 

The best assumption was that the groundhog crawled in the Center unnoticed and then found a cozy spot in the machine when nobody was looking. What a convenient way to sneak in among the cozy stuffies!

The Center promptly contacted the Pennsylvania Game Commission for help, who responded within minutes.

Soon, experienced Warden, Zaffuto, arrived at the scene to lead the rescue mission.

“When Warden Zaffuto responded and approached the machine, he saw a wave of stuffed animals move as the groundhog scurried around underneath, then it popped its head out to assess the situation,” Pennsylvania Game Commission – Southcentral Region wrote in a Facebook post.

The Strange Visitor Is Safely Released

Even though it was one of the options, the Warden didn’t want to put his claw-machine skills to the test. He was more inclined to a safer approach in order to release this stray visitor. After all, winning the prize can be tricky at times, and he didn’t want to risk it.

Instead, the entire team agreed to contact the vending machine company, which ultimately turned out to be an excellent decision.

“The vending machine company was contacted to unlock the machine, allowing Warden Zaffuto to safely capture the groundhog and release it unharmed,” the Game Commission added.

The groundhog was successfully rescued and released and, most importantly, it went completely unharmed.

In the end, the staff was relieved upon seeing this little furry creature safe and sound.

As for the girl who stumbled upon this “unexpected prize,” I’m absolutely positive that she will remember this unusual adventure for as long as possible.

After all, that’s what fun centers are all about!

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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)