Raccoon approaches CNN White House reporter in pre-dawn attack: 'Frickin' raccoons, man!'

• The White House lawn was the site of another raccoon encounter early Wednesday morning, with a CNN reporter appearing to fend off an attack right before his live shot.
• CNN caught the encounter on camera, with the reporter Joe Johns throwing something off-screen and telling a critter to get lost.
• "Frickin' raccoons, man," Johns said. "God, again! That's the second time. Jesus."
• Raccoons rampaged through several tents outside the White House recently, tearing into TV crews' gear in broad daylight.

The White House on Wednesday morning was the site of another raccoon encounter, to the dismay of a CNN reporter.

The reporter Joe Johns was recorded trying to do an early-morning live shot for "New Day" when his attention turned.

His foe could not be seen on camera, but Johns sprang into action, throwing an object off-screen and yelling for a critter to "get!" as he tried to salvage his TV hit.

"Frickin' raccoons, man," Johns said. "God, again! That's the second time. Jesus."

—Alisyn Camerota (@AlisynCamerota) October 7, 2020

Raccoons recently ransacked tents along the White House lawn used by TV crews, that time in broad daylight.

Johns later tweeted his theory that the pre-dawn raccoons were drawn to the bright lights around the live-shot setup.

—joe johns (@joejohnscnn) October 7, 2020