A raccoon that broke into a Virginia liquor store, ransacked shelves, and drank alcohol was found passed out in the store’s bathroom over the weekend, officials said.
According to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter, staff at the Ashland ABC Store in Ashland, Virginia, discovered the animal collapsed in the bathroom on Saturday morning. Investigators said the raccoon had broken multiple bottles on the shelves and appeared to have consumed “multiple types of alcohol” before losing consciousness.
In a social media post, the shelter described the animal as a “masked bandit” and “very intoxicated” when it was recovered. The raccoon was transported from the store to the shelter so it could safely sober up under supervision.
Officials said that after a few hours of sleep, the raccoon showed no signs of injury or illness, aside from what they jokingly referred to as a potential “hangover and poor life choices.” Once staff confirmed the animal was alert and behaving normally, it was released back into the wild.
The Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter, which provides veterinary care and temporary housing for homeless, unwanted, or rescued animals until they are adopted or placed with rescue organizations, said this incident was another example of its role in responding to unusual animal emergencies in the community.
