Lake Geneva, Wisconsin – Dine-in guests at Ristorante Brissago, part of the Grand Geneva Resort, got a shocking surprise Sunday night when a raccoon fell through the ceiling and bit a customer.

The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office reported deputies were called around 7:30 p.m. after the raccoon became loose inside the dining area. One guest attempting to grab the animal was bitten during the chaos.

Wildlife control expert Matt Snorek of Guaranteed Gone Wildlife Control responded to the scene. “We don’t know how this raccoon got there,” Snorek said. He described the animal as large and aggressive, noting it was “brawling, scratching, hissing” during the 25 minutes it took him to arrive.

Snorek explained that wildlife entering buildings is common during extreme cold, saying, “When it gets brutally cold like it was these last two days – it’s not uncommon to get these calls for raccoons going into a structure.”

The resort followed proper procedures, ensuring the guest received medical care and was taken to the hospital. Snorek safely removed the raccoon, which was euthanized and sent to Madison for rabies testing. “Felt like I owed that to the person that got bit,” he said.

Marcus Hotels & Resorts confirmed the incident: “A raccoon entered the building last night. Animal Control was contacted, and the animal was removed. As always, the safety and well-being of our guests is our priority.”

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