Drunk raccoon’s booze-fueled night raises almost $300,000 for animal shelterJocelyn Fiset Fri, November 13, 2026 at 6:53 PM UTC
A raccoon became an overnight celebrity last year after it broke into a Virginia liquor store, ransacked several shelves of booze, became very intoxicated and passed out in the bathroom.
Now the viral moment has helped raise almost $300,000 for a nearby shelter.
Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter shared a photo of the raccoon asleep next to a toilet on Dec. 2, 2025 after its "liquor-fueled rampage" at the Ashland ABC Store.
The shelter said an officer secured the masked bandit and transported him to the shelter to sober up "before questioning."
The moment made headlines around the world, even inspiring a "Saturday Night Live" skit.
Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter shared a photo of the hungover raccoon asleep next to a toilet on Dec. 2, 2025. (Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter / Facebook)
Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter shared a photo of the aftermath of a raccoon's drunken rampage on Dec. 2, 2025. (Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter / Facebook)
Drunk raccoon merchandise sold by Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter is pictured. (Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter)
The animal services department began selling merchandise featuring the boozy raccoon, which was given the nickname "Trashed Panda," and the items became a hit.
The county later added seasonal shirts, including one that reads "Hot Trash Summer" and another Halloween-themed shirt that says "Trick or Trashed."
The money raised $290,000 through sales in the past year, far exceeding the $20,000 in donations the shelter typically receives annually, Jeffrey Parker, Hanover County’s chief of animal protection, told The Washington Post.
“We never thought a raccoon would do this for us,” added Parker.
As for the raccoon, officials said it was released into the wild after it sobered up. It reportedly hasn't been seen since.
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Source: Nature
