Customs Officers Found a Stowaway Raccoon That Traveled From the US to Belarus
Customs officers in western Belarus made an unusual discovery in mid-January while processing a shipment of vehicles that had arrived by sea from the United States. They found a living passenger curled up on a dashboard.
The unexpected traveler was a raccoon, discovered during the transloading of passenger cars shipped across the Atlantic. The animal had survived the entire journey hidden inside the container, an outcome that was quite surprising.
Discovered During Routine Transloading
The raccoon was discovered on January 14, 2026, at the Kamenny Loh customs clearance facility near the Polish border. Officers from the Hrodna customs service and employees of Beltamozhservice spotted the animal resting inside one of the vehicles while the shipment was being processed.
It is assumed that the raccoon could have climbed into the container during loading and crossed the Atlantic with the cars. How long the animal survived without regular access to food or water remains unclear, but it was alive at the time of discovery.
Specialized experts were promptly called to the scene. Until their arrival, customs officers and company employees ensured the animal was kept in safe conditions.
Immediate Care and Quarantine
Image via iStockphoto/seenad
Following its discovery, the raccoon was transferred to the Oshmyany District Veterinary Station, where it was placed under quarantine for observation and veterinary examinations.
According to customs officials, the raccoon has been in Belarus for less than a week and has adjusted quickly. During this short period, it transitioned from a calm, semi-drowsy state to a much more active one. The initially allocated quarantine space has proven insufficient, as the animal now eats and moves around outside its enclosure during feeding and activity periods.
Officials reported that the raccoon accepted chicken eggs from the first day. Crab sticks and fresh grapes were later added to its diet. The animal has been named Senya. Customs officers from the Grodno region have continued to visit the veterinary station to monitor the raccoon’s condition and progress.
The quarantine period is scheduled to last until February 3. During this time, Senya will undergo all required examinations to ensure there are no risks to human health or local wildlife.
What Happens Next
After quarantine measures are completed, a decision will be made regarding the raccoon’s future. Options under consideration include releasing the animal into Nalibokskaya Pushcha or transferring it to the Grodno Zoo. The final decision will depend on veterinary conclusions and the animal’s condition.
Senya remains under observation as officials determine the most appropriate next step for the unexpected stowaway whose journey ended far from where it began.