A raccoon entered a liquor store and was discovered intoxicated.

Authorities in Ashland, Virginia, were faced with an unexpected intruder when a raccoon broke into a local liquor store and became inebriated. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 29, according to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.

The mischievous raccoon gained entry to the Virginia ABC store by falling through a ceiling tile. Once inside, it rummaged through the shelves, consuming alcohol until it passed out in the store's bathroom. Officials who arrived on the scene safely captured the animal and transported it to a shelter.

After resting for a few hours with no visible injuriesaside from what authorities humorously described as a possible hangoverthe raccoon was released back into the wild. Virginia ABC, which manages the store, praised the professionalism of the animal protection officers for their handling of the situation.

Photos from the scene showed broken bottles scattered throughout the store and the raccoon lying unconscious on the bathroom floor. Unfortunately, no video footage exists of the event, as the raccoon's entry caused the store cameras to be dislodged.

The break-in occurred shortly after Thanksgiving, with the store having reopened for Black Friday. Ashland is located about 16 miles north of Richmond.

The unusual incident sparked amusement on social media, with users sympathizing with the raccoon and joking about its decision to pass out in the bathroom. Comments highlighted the rarity of seeing a raccoon "drunk as a skunk" and praised its effort to reach the toilet.

Author: Jackson Miller