A raccoon in Virginia that became an overnight celebrity after spending a liquor-soaked night in a local ABC store. The raccoon was looking for simple means of procuring booze. It released ugly havoc into the store while it rampaged havoc! Above all, this event has brought to the forefront the increasing interactions between wildlife and urban environments.
Reports indicate that the raccoon drank an impressive range of hard liquor and Rot Gut beer before passing out. Witnesses watched the raccoon crash through a ceiling tile while on its crazy caper. This jarring image led to swift action by the state in 2016. Animal Control in Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter was able to confirm the raccoon was, in fact, drunk. This disclosure particularly helped explain the strange details of the incident.
Wildlife specialist and curator of the Frankfurt Museum of Natural History, Dr. Raffaela Lesch, said the link between raccoons and cities can’t be ignored. She remarked that “you know, wherever humans are, there’s trash.” This sentence highlights that raccoons are generalists, doing best in feeding habitats where food garbage is easy to find.
As the story started to take off, it inadvertently highlighted a different cultural phenomenon, happening simultaneously, still up north in Toronto, Canada. Raccoons have overrun the city! Now, the slogan on that widely sold T-shirt reads “Raccoons v Toronto.” More than a funny amendment, this pragmatic change is a testament to the public’s recognition of the raccoon’s supremacy over cityscapes.
Samantha Martin, a witness to the raccoon’s antics, described the scene: “He fell through one of the ceiling tiles and went on a full-blown rampage, drinking everything.” This delightful story gives a glimpse into the hi-jinx of some very social raccoons. More importantly, it showcases their fascinating adaptability to live amongst humans.
After several hours of rehabilitation, he had exhibited no physical injuries. That was cool, as it looked to only have a hangover, so we re-released it back into the wild without further ado. The Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter remarked, “After a few hours of sleep and zero signs of injury (other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices), he was safely released back to the wild, hopefully having learned that breaking and entering is not the answer.”