Raccoon gets drunk at Virginia ABC store, passes out in bathroom

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Raccoon gets drunk at Virginia ABC store, passes out in bathroom

Catherine Chen | [e-mail]
December 2, 2025, 6:57 PM


(1/2)
A Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter officer responded to an ABC store in Ashland, Virginia, on Saturday morning for a report of an unusual break-in.
(Courtesy Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter)
Courtesy Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter


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The "suspect" raccoon passed out in the bathroom.
(Courtesy Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter)
Courtesy Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter

A raccoon got a taste for trouble, and alcohol, after breaking into an ABC store in Ashland, Virginia, over the weekend, ransacking shelves and then passing out in the bathroom.

An officer from Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter responded to the store Saturday morning for a report of an unusual break-in. When Officer Martin arrived, she found shelves ransacked and bottles broken on the ground.

The “suspect” was discovered passed out on the floor of the bathroom, and was identified as an intoxicated raccoon, according to the shelter.

{snip}

[flying rabbit]

1. He'll have a story to tell

[sop]

2. "Drunk as a raccoon" has now officially replaced "drunk as a skunk."

[Xavier Breath]

3. I'm just glad that in his condition he didn't try to drive home.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. From booze to black belts: Virginia's drunk raccoon suspected in karate shop break-in

A raccoon that broke into a Virginia store and joyfully drank its way through the liquor aisle is now suspected of a wider crime spree, officials say.

A Hanover animal control officer suspects the stripe-tailed mammal also broke into a nearby karate studio and then raided the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for snacks.

"Supposedly, this is the third break-in he's had," said Officer Samantha Martin.
...
The county has been selling shirts with the logo "trashed panda" and has raised a whopping $207,000 (£155,000) as of Friday. The money will be used to renovate the shelter, and add to its capacity, Ms Martin said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y2271q20lo