‘Slothy’ the Viral Stuffed Animal Removed From Washington Roadside After Year Up Tree

A giant stuffed sloth that went viral on social media has been removed from its perch high up a tree next to a Washington highway after transport officials said they received complaints it was causing drivers to slow down to get a look.

WSDOT North said “Slothy” was 70 ft up a tree next to Interstate 5 in Bellingham. An unknown person put it there around a year ago, according to MyBellinghamNow.com.

During that time, locals had grown attached to the sloth, judging by a local Reddit page.

WSDOT North said “it took a break in the weather, a 125-ft bucket truck, and some true skills” to remove Slothy from his perch.

On the question of why Slothy’s days of fame were numbered, they said: “There’s a reason an 8-foot sloth hanging from a tree became so popular: It draws a lot of attention. And when you’re driving on the highway, that’s not a good thing. We’ve heard that drivers were slowing down to get a closer look or driving distracted to try to snap a picture.

“Slothy DOES remind us that it’s important to slow down… in work zones and in life,” WSDOT North wrote on Facebook. “But otherwise, let’s leave our 8-foot stuffed animals in their natural habitats: On a bed made for giants.”

No one has so far come forward to take responsibility for placing the celebrity sloth up the tree, MyBellinghamNow.com reported. Credit: WSDOT North via Storyful