A Raccoon Broke Into a Liquor Store Got Drunk and Passed Out in the Bathroom
The staff at a Virginia liquor store walked in after Thanksgiving expecting a slow morning. Instead, the place looked like someone had taken a shortcut through the ceiling and held their own private tasting. Bits of plaster were scattered on the floor, bottles lay tipped over, and a trail of spilled liquor led straight to the back bathroom. That’s where they found the culprit curled up beside the toilet — a raccoon that had dropped in from above, helped itself to a few drinks, and passed out in the only corner it could find.
The break-in happened early Saturday at the Ashland ABC store. Police and animal control were called, though the raccoon had clearly wrapped up its night before anyone showed up. Officers reported that it wasn’t hurt, just in no shape to explain how it got there.
The Unexpected Route to the Bottom Shelf
According to officials, the raccoon fell through a ceiling tile and landed in the spirits section, which happened to place it right next to a row of scotch and whisky. It did not stop there. Reports say the raccoon knocked over a mix of different liquors, everything from seasonal drinks to sweeter specialty bottles, leaving a messy trail across the floor.
The only clear footage of the break-in is a blurry overhead image that looks more like a wildlife cameo than a criminal record, so most of the timeline had to be reconstructed based on the mess left behind.
Animal control officer Samantha Martin responded to the call and described the aftermath as a full rampage. Glass covered the floor, shelves were disturbed, and the raccoon had moved through enough bottles to make the bathroom look inviting.
She collected it and brought it to the shelter to recover. Despite the dramatic scene, the raccoon showed no injuries beyond the predictable consequences of not knowing your limits.
A Short Hangover and a Fresh Start
Shelter staff monitored the raccoon and reported that it needed roughly an hour and a half to recover. Once awake, it acted normally and showed no lingering issues. Hanover County Animal Protection later released it back into the wild and noted that it had likely reached a few personal limits along the way.
The store posted a light message thanking the shelter for giving their visitor a “sober ride home.” For employees, the cleanup was extensive, but the story had already taken on a life of its own. It is not every holiday weekend that a raccoon needs something strong to take the edge off.
Wildlife Has a Long History of Questionable Timing
Image via Pexels/Helena Jankovičová Kováčová
The Virginia raccoon is not the first animal recorded consuming alcohol by accident. Birds sometimes eat fermented berries. In Malaysia, certain shrews drink fermented nectar. Historical records list various incidents involving parrots, primates, and other wildlife. None of these involved a modern liquor store, but the theme is familiar.
Human environments create access points for animals to investigate, and sometimes the results make news. Because the case was unusual but harmless, Hanover County posted about it. The raccoon woke up, regained its coordination, and left the shelter the same day. Ashland store now has a story they did not ask for but will likely tell for years.