Patrons at a luxury Wisconsin restaurant experienced a shocking and unexpected interruption to their evening meal when a raccoon crashed through the ceiling and bit a customer, authorities have confirmed.
The Uninvited Dinner Guest
The chaotic scene unfolded at the Ristorante Brissago inside the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, roughly 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee. According to reports, the incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. on December 14. The raccoon reportedly fell from the ceiling directly into the dining area, causing immediate alarm.
In the ensuing confusion, one guest attempted to apprehend the animal and was subsequently bitten. Responding to the emergency, Walworth County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to find the creature cornered in a back dining room. Officers initially contained the agitated raccoon by placing a large trash can over it.
Capture and Consequences
Wildlife control expert Matt Snorek of Guaranteed Gone Wildlife Control was called to the scene. He described using a dog catch pole and a cage to safely trap the animal. Snorek noted the raccoon was unusually large and aggressive, putting up a significant fight during the capture process.
"It was quite a large raccoon. So he was on it for the 25 minutes I was on the way there as this thing was brawling, scratching, hissing," Snorek told local media. He also explained that such wildlife intrusions into buildings are not uncommon during harsh Midwest winters, as animals seek shelter from the cold.
Public Health Protocol Followed
Due to the fact the raccoon had bitten a person, standard public health procedures were enacted. The animal was euthanised and tested for rabies. The Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, later confirmed that the test results came back negative for the disease.
While no serious injuries were reported beyond the bite, the bizarre event provided a highly unusual and unsettling dining experience for all involved at the upscale establishment.
