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Unlikely intruder leaves Virginia liquor store in disarray
Employees at an Ashland ABC store arrived Saturday to discover a raccoon had broken in overnight, consumed alcohol, and passed out in the bathroom.
Chaotic scene greets staff
The store, closed for Thanksgiving, showed signs of a struggle: shattered bottles, spilled liquor, and a trail of damage. The raccoon appeared to have a preference for scotch, according to officials.
Animal control officer Samantha Martin reported the animal likely fell through a ceiling tile before going on what she described as a "full-blown rampage, drinking everything in sight."
Raccoon sobers up, released unharmed
The intoxicated raccoon was found unconscious in the bathroom, wedged between the toilet and a trash bin. Martin transported the animal to Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter for observation.
After a few hours of rest and no signs of injury-aside from a suspected hangover-the raccoon was released back into the wild.
Limited evidence of the boozy break-in
Store surveillance captured only one blurry image of the incident, leaving the exact amount of alcohol consumed unclear. Staff noted the raccoon seemed to target lower-shelf spirits.
Lighthearted response from officials
The store posted on social media, thanking Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter for their "professionalism" and providing the raccoon with a "sober ride home."
"Just another day in the life of an animal control officer,"
Samantha Martin, Animal Control Officer
