Raccoons have been spotted stumbling around Stittsville and sleeping off in broad daylight, according to residents.
One resident, Emily Rodgers, said she arrived home to find one raccoon knocked out in her backyard.
“He couldn’t really move. He was dragging his legs, he was wobbling, having a hard time standing up. You could tell something was wrong with him for sure,” Rodger said.
Other residents called 311 and city workers to remove other raccoons in their backyards. “So that’s why this guy was kind of sleeping it off under our deck,” another one said.
Biology professor at Carleton University, Michael Runtz, explained that no, the raccoons were not drinking actual alcohol. Rather, they were likely overindulging on fermented fruits in the area.
“It’s possible that some fruit is fermenting under the heat, and that these guys are getting a bit tipsy by eating that fermenting fruit,” he said. “Don’t try to give them coffee and get them sobered up, just let them go their course. If you’re really concerned about the animal, call some of the animal control officers to come have a look at it.”
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