Photo: Hanover County Animal Protection & Shelter
A Virginia liquor store in Ashland had an unexpected visitor over the weekend when a raccoon broke in and indulged in various alcoholic beverages. The incident occurred at the Ashland ABC Store, where the raccoon, described as a "masked bandit," was found passed out in the bathroom on Saturday (November 29). According to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter, the raccoon had ransacked shelves and consumed multiple types of alcohol.
Officer Samantha Martin of the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter was called to the scene. She found the raccoon unconscious in the restroom and transported it to the shelter to sober up. After a few hours of rest and showing no signs of injury, the raccoon was released back into the wild. The store, which had been closed for Thanksgiving, suffered damage to its security system, and several bottles were smashed, including the raccoon's apparent favorite, scotch.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with many locals finding humor in the situation. Jeffery Parker, Chief of Hanover Animal Protection and Shelter, noted that the event provided an opportunity to showcase the shelter's work. Parker commented, "You can’t make this up, it happened."
The raccoon, which may have a history of similar antics, has become a local sensation. Madison Blair, an employee at a nearby business, recalled a similar raccoon break-in at her workplace a year ago. Despite the unusual circumstances, Officer Martin remarked that it was "just another day in the life of an animal control officer."