Drunk raccoon causes chaos at liquor store before passing out in bathroom: Officials

ASHLAND, VIRGINIA: A surprising discovery was made on the morning of Saturday, November 29, at a liquor store in Ashland.

Officials found a drunk raccoon asleep in the store’s bathroom after what appeared to be a wild spree. The unusual incident quickly drew attention from local animal authorities. 

Raccoon’s rampage at the store

The Facebook post led with an alert, "Black Friday Break-In at Ashland ABC Store, Suspect Apprehended After Liquor-Fueled Rampage."

It then continued, "On Saturday morning, Officer Martin responded to an unusual call at the Ashland ABC Store."

The situation became clearer once officials inspected the store “Upon arrival, she discovered the ‘suspect’ had broken in, ransacked several shelves, and then… passed out in the bathroom.”

The suspect was a “very intoxicated” raccoon that went on a drunken rampage inside the liquor store and then passed out face-first in the bathroom.

The "masked bandit" was found snoozing in a booze-induced haze by the toilet, leaving behind a trail of broken liquor bottles, disheveled shelves, and toppled boxes, according to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.

The raccoon had reportedly ransacked store shelves and consumed multiple types of alcohol before passing out. 

After it was discovered, staff from Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter transported the raccoon back to their facility so it could sober up.

Raccoon’s recovery and return to the wild

A spokesperson for the store said the raccoon damaged 14 bottles of spirits worth about $250. No other damage was found, and the store opened after the cleanup.

Samantha Martin, an officer who works at the shelter, took care of the raccoon after she was called in by the liquor store.

Speaking about the unexpected intruder, she said, "I personally like raccoons. They are funny little critters. He fell through one of the ceiling tiles and went on a full-blown rampage, drinking everything."

In the social‑media post, the shelter shared that after “a few hours of sleep” and with “zero signs of injury (other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices),” the raccoon was released back into the wild. 

The post also added a witty note that the animal hopefully “learned that breaking and entering is not the answer.”

The shelter closed its post with a note of appreciation: “A big shout-out to Officer Martin for handling this chaotic scene with professionalism and good humor. Just another day in the life at Hanover Animal Protection!”