Drunk raccoon is shot dead after staggering through a German Christmas market and passing out under a bin when it 'helped itself to mulled wine'
by Jack Newman For Mailonline- Shocked Christmas shoppers at the Erfurt market saw the stumbling animal
- Police believe it had been sipping from discarded mulled wine mugs
- It was looked after by security before being taken to an animal shelter
- But the raccoon never arrived and instead it was shot dead by a local hunter
A drunk raccoon has been shot dead after staggering through a German Christmas market before passing out underneath a bin after drinking too much mulled wine.
At noon on Saturday, amused Christmas shoppers at the Erfurt market saw the furry creature stumbling between the stalls.
The unsure animal was seen crossing tram tracks before playing with a woman's shoes.
The raccoon then enjoyed a rest on the steps of someone's home, before having a snooze under a bin.
A police spokesperson told Bild the raccoon had nibbled on leftovers of mulled wine mugs.
He said the animal was 'obviously intoxicated', but said: 'However, a breathalyzer test on the animal was not carried out.'
A security guard at the Christmas market noticed the raccoon and took him in before alerting the authorities.
But then remarkably it was shot dead by a local hunter despite plans to take it to an animal shelter.
It is not yet known where the animal had come from.
In the same city last year, police found two drunk hedgehogs near the cathedral who had been gorging on some discarded advocaat.
The animals were then taken in by the local zoo.
