Raccoon discovered unconscious in liquor store after causing chaos while intoxicated

Employees at a Virginia liquor store were shocked to discover a scene of destruction on Saturday morning, only to find the culprit was not a human burglar, but a heavily intoxicated raccoon.

When staff arrived, they noticed broken bottles scattered across the floor, soaking the area with spilled scotch and whiskey. Initial fears of a break-in were quickly replaced by surprise when the animal was found asleep on the bathroom floor.

Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter confirmed that their animal control officer, Samantha Martin, had been dispatched to the store. According to the shelter, Martin encountered the raccoon in a state of deep inebriation after it had apparently broken in and toppled several shelves.

The raccoon, described as wearing a mask, is believed to have spent Friday night inside the Ashland ABC Store, climbing in through a damaged ceiling tile and sampling various types of alcohol. It was discovered lying face down between the toilet and a bin in the staff restroom, with no injuries other than what might be called a hangover.

The chaotic aftermath suggested that liquor was the raccoons preferred beverage. Officer Martin secured the animal and transported it to the shelter to sober up before release. After several hours of rest, the raccoon was returned to the wild unharmed, with the hope that it had learned a lesson about breaking and entering.

The shelter praised Officer Martin for managing the unusual situation with both professionalism and good humor. In an interview, Martin told the Associated Press that the raccoon had consumed alcohol directly from the bottles, causing the mess on the shop floor. He fell through one of the ceiling tiles and went on a full-blown rampage, she said. Just another day in the life of an animal control officer.

Author: Sophia Brooks