Authorities in Virginia responded to an unusual break-in over the weekend involving a drunk raccoon that damaged a closed liquor store before passing out in the bathroom.
The incident occurred early Saturday at a liquor store in the Ashland area. Employees arriving in the morning discovered broken bottles, a collapsed ceiling tile, and alcohol pooled across the floor. The source of the chaos was quickly identified — a raccoon, which had apparently fallen through the ceiling and helped itself to various alcoholic beverages.
The animal, reportedly intoxicated, was found unconscious in the store’s bathroom. Samantha Martin, an officer with local animal control, responded to the scene and transported the drunk raccoon to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.
“He went on a full-blown rampage, drinking everything,” Martin said, adding that she found humor in the situation despite the mess.
Shelter staff later confirmed that the raccoon had recovered without injury. “After a few hours of sleep and zero signs of injury (other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices), he was safely released back to the wild,” the agency stated.
The drunk raccoon is not facing any charges, but local authorities hope the incident serves as a reminder about the dangers of unsecured ceiling tiles and accessible alcohol.