Party Animal: Drunk Raccoon Passes Out in Liquor Store
- Dec 8, 2025
- 2 min read
Staff at a Virginia liquor store got a shock when they came into work to find that a "masked bandit" had burgled the store, merrily drinking its way through the spirits section.
The rampaging raccoon was found passed out, spread-eagled, in the bathroom having helped itself to the easy to reach bottles on a bottom shelf. Happily, animal control officer Samantha Martin was called in to rescue the "masked bandit" and transported the "suspect" for questioning at Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.
After a few hours of sleep and zero signs of injury (other than maybe a hangover), the animal was safely released back into the wild “hopefully having learned that breaking and entering is not the answer.” But definitely with a great story to tell his friends.
The Ashland ABC store had been closed for the holidays when it suffered its break-in. When staff arrived they found several smashed bottles and puddles of booze on the aisle floor, including its apparent tipple of choice, scotch. Officer Martin said the animal had fallen through one of the ceiling tiles (so, in its defence, the 'break-in' was probably unintentional) before going "on a full-blown rampage, drinking everything".
Only one blurry CCTV image of the raccoon's boozy escapade exists, so it's unknown just how much alcohol the proverbial party animal imbibed before passing out in the bathroom. In a social media post, the store thanked Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter for its professionalism and providing its visitor with a "sober ride home".
Officer Martin said it was "just another day in the life of an animal control officer".
