A raccoon broke into food supplies in both the food Pantry and cafeteria kitchen on the MCCC West Windsor Campus late on Halloween. Patrolling security guards saw lights on and went to investigate.
According to Josh Johnson, Director of Facilities, the raccoon–later nicknamed “Rocky the Raccoon” by the Pantry coordinator–gained access through an open door on the loading dock at the back of the Student Center building and travelled across the ceiling via the HVAC system.
College Safety noticed motion-activated lights triggered by the raccoon’s movements inside the Pantry and contacted Facilities, who then called Animal Control. Workers from Animal Control came and set a cage trap that night.
“Eventually the raccoon made its way into the trap and then was removed and taken out into the woods behind the college and released [in the morning],” Johnson said.
Staff then conducted a thorough cleanup, discarding contaminated items, disinfecting surfaces with a fogging system similar to what was used during COVID, and replacing the damaged ceiling. Facilities staff reminded workers to keep exterior doors closed to prevent future incidents.
Erica Oliver, the Vice President of Advancement, Marketing, and Communications, told The VOICE, “[Animal Control] did not harm the animal or anything. So I just want to make sure that’s clear, that they took care of the animal and I don’t know where they released him. But I did hear he was cute.”
Shannon Rhym, a food service worker at the cafeteria, said of the raccoon entering the kitchen, “It just got back here [in the kitchen]. [It ate] some sugar, the craisins…just a few boxes and things that we store food in.” She added, “We had to throw certain things out. It wasn’t too much damage [in the kitchen], but in the Pantry, it did a real bad job.”
Jodi Marra, the Pantry coordinator put up a sign on the door cautioning raccoons to stay away.
She said, “It was absolutely nothing anybody could have predicted. And obviously [the Pantry] wasn’t vandalized. It was an innocent raccoon, and absolutely nobody could have predicted it all. It was funny and a lot of students didn’t know about it so that’s why I put [the sign] on the door.”
Despite the unusual visitor, Marra emphasized that while the Pantry isn’t available to wildlife it is an open resource for students.
She says, “We’re open. Students are welcome to come.”
Johnson said, “You know, raccoons are creatures of opportunity. This wasn’t an incident where the building was compromised and that’s how he made his way in. It was just somebody left the door open.”
He added, “He ate well. I will say that.”
