Drunk raccoon wreaks havoc in US liquor store before passing out
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A raccoon in Virginia, USA, caused chaos inside a liquor store after apparently consuming alcohol and going on a destructive spree.
The incident took place on November 28, Black Friday, when a store employee arrived to find the animal unconscious “face down” after what appeared to be a “liquor-fueled rampage.”
Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter said in a Facebook post that the raccoon left behind a significant mess. Shelves were disturbed, boxes were overturned, and several liquor bottles were smashed. A store spokesperson estimated that about 14 bottles, valued at roughly $250, were damaged. Despite the mess, the store reopened soon after the cleanup, as there was no major structural damage.
According to the shelter, the raccoon had fallen through a ceiling tile before tearing through the store and drinking from the available alcohol.
Samantha Martin, an officer who responded to the call, told the Associated Press that she has a fondness for raccoons. “I personally like raccoons. They are funny little critters. He fell through one of the ceiling tiles and went on a full-blown rampage, drinking everything,” she said.
The animal was checked for injuries and allowed to rest for a few hours. Officials wrote that it showed no signs of harm “other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices.” It was later released back into the wild.
Photos released by AP quickly circulated online. One image shows the raccoon asleep beside a garbage can and a toilet, while another shows the aisle filled with shattered liquor bottles.
The story spread rapidly across social media, prompting humorous reactions.
“Now we know why Target puts everything behind glass doors…it’s the raccoons,” one user joked.
Another commented, “Who hasn’t ransacked a liquor store, gotten drunk silly, passed out by the toilet, and then spent a night in the drunk tank? Brings back so many personal memories for me of the early ’00s.”
A third user added, “At least he made it to the bathroom. Most people can’t even do that.”