Ashland business recalls raccoon encounter long before drunken break-in

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The now viral raccoon that repeatedly broke into a Virginia ABC store in Hanover County has also wreaked havoc on another Ashland storefront.

The story gained international attention after a raccoon broke his way into an Ashland ABC store, ransacking its shelves and passing out drunk in its bathroom on Friday, Nov. 28. It inspired Virginia ABC advertisements and clothing brand apparel.

8News learned the trash panda has broken into other buildings like the Department of Motor Vehicles and Rise Martial Arts.

Rise Martial Arts employee Jathen Bell said the raccoon first marked its territory last year after crawling through a hole in the studio’s ceiling and helping itself to an unusual assortment of snacks. Oreos, applesauce, Rice Krispies, even Goldfish crackers were among its late-night selections.

“We have a bunch of snacks in our break room back there, for the kids during daycare. And a raccoon at some point got in through a hole in the ceiling that we had to get repaired and fixed," Bell said.

According to Bell, the break-ins happened about three more times over the past year before the hole was finally repaired. While the visits initially creeped him out, he said watching the furry culprit go viral over the past week — and seeing donations pour into Hanover’s animal shelter — has been surprisingly fun.

“It’s just one of those things where it writes itself,” Bell said. “It feels like an SNL skit in real life. It’s just goofy.”

Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter Chief Jeffrey Parker said while the publicity has been overwhelming, there’s a silver lining to the recent fame.

“We've had some animals, you know, get into stores either like deer, get into the back, into a window or something like that. But we never really had something like this happen,” Parker said.

“I think the best thing about this story is that it's bringing smiles to people's faces. People are laughing about it. It's so good to have a little sit back and reset. It’s remarkable," he said.

The wave of attention has led to the creation of “Trashed Panda” merchandise, which has already raised more than $200,000 for Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.