In brief
A raccoon in Virginia made headlines after breaking into a local liquor store, getting drunk, and passing out in the bathroom. The animal was rescued by animal control and later released back to the wild.
A Virginia liquor store staff experienced an unexpected surprise this past Saturday when they discovered a raccoon had broken in and consumed too much alcohol. The cheeky 'masked bandit' was found unconscious in the store's bathroom, seemingly having enjoyed a few bottom-shelf spirits. Animal control officer Samantha Martin arrived on the scene to transport the drunken raccoon to Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter for questioning, ensuring the critter had time to sober up first.Following a few hours of rest and displaying no apparent injuries apart from potential signs of a hangover, the raccoon was successfully released back into its natural habitat. The incident occurred at an Ashland ABC store that had been closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, ultimately leading to what some dubbed a 'Black Friday break-in.' When employees came in on Saturday, they found broken bottles and liquor splattered across the floor, speculating that the raccoon had particularly taken a liking to scotch. Officer Martin recounted that the animal likely fell through a ceiling tile before embarking on its 'full-blown rampage.' While only a blurry CCTV image exists to document the raccoon’s escapade, the extent of the alcohol consumed remains a mystery. The store later expressed gratitude to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter via social media for their dedicated service, providing the raccoon with a ‘sober ride home.’ Officer Martin humorously remarked that it was 'just another day in the life of an animal control officer.'
