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Marissa J. Lang and Dana Munro

It appears the raccoon could be facing an issue.

Not only the drinking – although its recent binge at a Virginia state-run liquor store made international news and sparked the creativity of sketch comedy writers at Saturday Night Live. It might also have a tendency to break in.

The raccoon, which has not been given a name since it is, after all, a wild creature, is believed to have entered several businesses in the same Ashland shopping center prior to its November 29 incident, during which it ended up in a liquor store bathroom, unconscious and disoriented, as reported by local authorities.

In a recent episode of the local podcast “Hear in Hanover,” Animal Protection Officer Samantha Martin informed county spokeswoman Kristin Smith Dunlop that the well-known animal is probably the same raccoon that had previously entered a martial arts studio and a Department of Motor Vehicles office located in the same building as the liquor store.

The animal with the striped tail, lovingly called Hanover County’s “trashed panda,” left signs of its presence, Martin noted, such as shattered alcohol bottles and disturbed snacks.

Every time we manage to get him out, we don’t move him because that’s a death sentence for raccoons,” Martin explained. “But for some reason, he always finds his way back into the building. He’s a clever little animal.

Neither the Department of Motor Vehicles nor the martial arts studio provided a response to inquiries.

The raccoon might have already been noticed by animal control, but it wasn’t until the clever creature embarked on an evening rampage at the liquor store last month that the wider public learned about its tale.

Somewhere between the time the store closed on a Friday night and opened again on Saturday morning, according to officials, the raccoon managed to squeeze through the ceiling of the Ashland location, setting off a motion detector. The creature then started digging through the stored items and damaged 14 bottles of alcohol, including rum, scotch, whiskey, vodka, moonshine, and even spiced eggnog.

A security video captured around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday shows the raccoon moving around the closed store and “having a good time,” according to Virginia ABC spokesperson Carol Mawyer.

When the store manager came back to open the shop in the morning, the storage area corridors were wet from spilled beverages and the creature was lying in the staff restroom beside the toilet.

He locked himself in the bathroom, so he was aware of what he was doing,” Martin mentioned on the podcast on Thursday. “People can recognize the human aspect of it. I mean, everyone has been in that situation, everyone has had a few too many and passed out by the toilet, hoping someone would come and assist you the next day.

Following a viral social media post from the animal welfare organization, the raccoon gained international fame, becoming both a celebrity and a symbol for the county’s Animal Protection department. The department has taken advantage of the attention to generate funds: merchandise featuring the raccoon’s image—shown lying face down with an empty bottle of alcohol nearby—has raised over $200,000 for Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter, as reported by Jeffrey Parker, the department’s chief, as of Saturday.

This is the highest amount of external funding the department has received in at least twenty years, noted Parker, who has worked at the organization for 19 years.

It’s been incredible,” he stated. “We are extremely grateful for what has transpired.

The agency hasn’t determined how to handle its surge of new funding, although Martin mentioned in the podcast interview that Animal Protection requires additional resources to keep pace with a growing county population and rising requests for animal welfare assistance.

The department is evaluating upgrades to its water pressure system, expanding veterinary services, or remodeling its animal washing area, Parker stated.

Other local groups have also attempted to join the raccoon trend by organizing themed events, slogans, and advertising campaigns. The Downtown Ashland Association is running a continuous raccoon-themed treasure hunt to attract visitors to local shops.

In the meantime, Virginia Distillery Company shared a post on social media that appeared to be directed at the animal: “Virginia Distillery Company: Uniquely smooth. Even if you mostly consume junk, please drink in moderation.”

On the other hand, Martin has utilized her time on the radio to warn people about the risks of interacting with wildlife—whether intoxicated or not. She mentioned during her podcast interview that any raccoon that bites and punctures human skin should be regarded as a possible rabies risk and would subsequently be euthanized and tested for the illness.

Parker, head of animal protection, expressed his hope that the raccoon is currently “engaged in raccoon activities” and, above all, “avoiding any issues.”

But only time will reveal whether the currently notorious creature can resist the urge to go back to its preferred shopping mall and sneak into another store for a midnight snack or a drink at night.

He isn’t very far away, in the end.

After the raccoon passed out from its alcohol-fueled rampage in a dog kennel that had been converted into a drunk tank at the county’s animal shelter, officers released it back into the woods approximately a mile away from the liquor store.

However, raccoons are wanderers and can move as far as eight miles each day while looking for a partner—or perhaps something different.