A typical day at work for a nurse in Kentucky turned into an amazing wildlife rescue when a young raccoon was found unconscious inside a dumpster. This unusual incident occurred because the raccoon had become drunk after eating fermented peaches that had been thrown away from a nearby moonshine distillery. Fortunately, this raccoon was able to get a second chance at life thanks to some unexpected compassion.
A Dumpster Hiding an Unexpected Danger
On the 14th of August 2025, near the Letcher County Health Department in Whitesburg, Kentucky, registered nurse Misty Combs and her colleagues noticed an adult raccoon who looked like it was in distress. The raccoon was circling, looking for something.
They soon noticed a dumpster nearby and saw two young raccoons stuck in amongst some peaches and rainwater. These peaches had been used by the nearby Kentucky Mist Moonshine distillery, and the raccoons were intrigued by the smell.
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One raccoon was conscious and could be moved with a shovel. However, the other was in a much worse state. It was lying on its stomach at the bottom of the dumpster, barely breathing.
This situation shows how throwed food can pose a hidden risk.
Why the Fermented Peaches Became a Threat
Fermentation is the process where microorganisms, mainly yeast, turn sugars into alcohol. Whilst there may be naturally occurring fermented fruits, the peaches were used by the moonshine distillery, so they posed a greater risk.
Animals looking for food will not know the risks of alcohol. As the raccoon was young and curious, it would have no reason to know eating the smelly pile of fruit would impact their coordination, awareness and ability to escape.
Whilst we do not know exactly how much alcohol the raccoon drank, it became evident that it had become drunk. Along with the cold rainwater, the raccoon was in danger of drowning.
As the raccoon had fallen into the water in the dumpster it may have been unable to climb out due to being drunk. This highlights how open waste bins can pose an unintentional trap for animals.
A Nurse Makes a Desperate Attempt to Save Its Life
Misty Combs managed to pull the unconscious raccoon out of the dumpster with the help of a colleague. Misty had been a nurse for over twenty years but had never done CPR on a raccoon.
She decided to try to save the raccoon straight away. She started doing chest compressions. During this, water started to come out of the raccoon’s mouth. Misty then turned the raccoon onto its side and patted its back.
The raccoon was in a tense situation for a few moments. However, it soon started to move and showed signs of breathing.
It was amazing that the raccoon was saved. However, Misty was brave enough to try to save it. She also knew that if the raccoon woke up, it could bite. Especially if it was scared or confused.
Misty showed incredible compassion. However, this is not advised when trying to save injured wildlife. Unconscious animals need the proper treatment from a vet. It would be better to contact a wildlife professional.
The Little Survivor Named Otis Campbell
After the raccoon was rescued, Kentucky wildlife officials took it to a local vet. It received fluids and stayed overnight to recover from being drunk.
Misty and her colleagues named the young raccoon Otis Campbell after the character from The Andy Griffith Show who was known for being very drunk.
Luckily, Otis recovered enough to be released back into the wild the next day. Misty got to release him near where he was found.
This incident quickly became popular online. However, the most meaningful part was that an animal that didn’t look likely to survive was helped and released back into its natural habitat.
The Bigger Lesson Behind This Unusual Rescue
This story shows us an important question to ask businesses that deal with food, drinks and agricultural products. Where does the waste go?
Wild animals get themselves into dangerous situations with alcohol covered fruit and the availability of open containers and bins to put garbage in. Wildlife will be less in danger if containers are tightly sealed and there is wildlife-proof trash and safe trash disposal.
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Another public health concern is the presence of raccoons. Raccoons could transmit a dangerous disease. Like any wild animal, raccoons may suddenly become alert if approached. So it’s better to contact local animal control if you see any wild animal that appears in distress or injury.
Overall, whilst this is an unusual story about a raccoon eating the wrong fruit, it shows us how waste can cause unexpected situations for wildlife. With someone having the courage to act, it can make a life-changing difference.
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