Oakdale market ejects masked mammal invader
An Oakdale supermarket Wednesday had to contend with a masked visitor whose reputation for pilfering is legendary, particularly when it comes to sneaking off with a vegetable or two.
A raccoon who scurried into the Best Yet Market through a front door spent only a short time inside, did not get a chance to sample the market's fare and was safely removed, store officials said.
The raccoon walked into the market at 871 Montauk Hwy. at about 10:48 a.m., Suffolk County police said.
Store officials said the raccoon -- known for a voracious appetite -- hid under a shelf nearly the entire time it was inside and caused no damage. The store evacuated customers and staff for about 90 minutes, until a wildlife expert could capture the animal and "humanely remove" it, officials said.
John Timoney, facilities manager for the Long Island string of markets, said an exterminator was called originally, and that the exterminator then turned to the wildlife expert.
Michael Vacarr, the director of operations for the 14 Best Yet Markets on Long Island and in Queens, said the store was back in business, after a slight clean up, at about 12:30 p.m.
Vacarr said the raccoon was not injured and "was probably more relieved" to get out of the store than anything else.
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