‘Heavily intoxicated’ raccoon passes out in liquor store bathroom after breaking in, ransacking shelves

ASHLAND, Va. (WWBT/Gray News) – Animal control officers in Virginia responded to an unusual call this weekend after a raccoon broke into a liquor store, ransacked several shelves and passed out in the bathroom.

On Saturday, officers with the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter were called to the Ashland ABC store and found the raccoon unconscious in the store’s restroom.

The raccoon had damaged merchandise on multiple shelves and got into the liquor before passing out in the restroom.

The officer safely secured the “very intoxicated raccoon” and took it to an animal shelter to recover, the shelter said.

After several hours of rest, the raccoon showed no signs of being hurt, “other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices,” the shelter said. It was released back into the wild.

Officials said the raccoon broke into the store through the ceiling and damaged the store’s security system in the process, triggering a power outage alert from the security company.

The store said the animal damaged $250 worth of spirits.

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