Filled sloth over I-5 north, which was removed from WSDOT

Travelers on the I-5 North may have noticed a bizarre surprise in the trees: a huge toy shoe that depends 70 feet on the ground. The stuffed animal with the nickname “Slothy” remained visible near Bellingham for more than a year.

Slothy returned to Solid Ground on Tuesday, March 18 – but not without the help of the Washington State of Transportation (WSDOT). Madison Sehlke, a public information officer at WSDOT, said the decision was made in the interest of public security.

“We had received some complaints that it became a distraction when people became slower, which could cause problems in a busy corridor,” said Sehlke. “From caution and out of security, we decided that it was time that the slot came down.”

Sehlke added that the “fast operation” was made possible due to a weather break. After the WSDOT crew implemented Slothy with the help of a 125-foot bucket.

WSDOT North posted photos of the operation on social media this afternoon. According to the organization’s X account: “Friendly memory: Trees are not for toys.

How Fasty first found a tree up? Sehlke said WSDOT had no “insight” at that time – but the mysterious origins of the toy have led to numerous online speculations.

Like a Reddit user commented: “Maybe he has put up there … very slowly.”

Cocoa Laney is CDNS Lifestyle editor; Reach them at [email protected]; 360-922-3090 Ext. 128.