Drunk raccoon in liquor store is repeat offender

Earlier this month, those responding to a trash liquore store found the culprit in a bathroom there: a trashed trash panda sleeping it off. It turns out that the raccoon is a repeat offender, suspected in two more similar break-ins.

"Supposedly this is like the third break-in he's had," animal protection officer Samantha Martin told a local podcast host this week. She said that other businesses and organizations in the building complex have also been burgled. "He was in the karate studio," Martin said. "I think he got into DMV [and] ate some of their snacks one time."

The animal became internationally famous and the subject of memes, merchandize and a memorable comedy sketch, embedded below.

Martin was the officer who responded to the liquor store incident, rescued and ultimately released the animal after it was confirmed healthy. Appearing on a local podcast, she said racoons are not relocated as they will die anyway; a page at Florida's fisheries commission explains why: "Relocated wildlife has a poor chance of survival, and this action may impact other wildlife already living in the area."

The trashed panda has also been a boon for Hanover County's animal control, which has received more than $200,000 in donations thanks to the publicity.

"It's relatable and it's hilarious. People can come together and laugh," Martin said on the podcast. "I think people can see the human side of it," she added. "Everybody's been there, everybody's had a few extra and passed out by the toilet and hoped somebody can come and help you the next morning."