A raccoon fell through the ceiling of a fine-dining restaurant at the Grand Geneva Resort on Sunday night and bit a guest who tried to catch it, authorities said. Deputies were called around 7:30 p.m., and the animal was eventually contained and removed.
Officials said early evidence points to an isolated incident inside Ristorante Brissago, a lakeside restaurant at the sprawling Walworth County resort. The dining room was busy when the raccoon came down from an overhead space, prompting startled shouts and a brief scramble among staff and patrons. Responding deputies coordinated with wildlife control to secure the animal after a guest suffered a bite. The raccoon was euthanized and sent for testing, a standard procedure after an exposure. County public health officials later reported the animal tested negative for rabies. The bitten diner received medical care. The resort’s operator said safety and guest well-being were the priority while the room was cleared and the scene stabilized.
Dispatch logs show deputies arrived minutes after the 7:30 p.m. call. In interviews, a wildlife-control technician described a hectic scene that lasted about 25 minutes before he reached the property. He said the raccoon was large, agitated and difficult to corner. “It was quite a large raccoon,” said technician Matt Snorek, adding that the animal hissed and scratched as it moved between rooms. An officer used a control pole, and staff lowered an overturned garbage can to pin the animal against the floor for safe removal. A guest who attempted to grab the raccoon before responders arrived was bitten and later evaluated by medical personnel. Deputies documented the ceiling void where tiles fell and noted the path the raccoon took through the dining area, according to summaries shared with local media.
The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office identified the affected venue as Ristorante Brissago, one of the resort’s restaurants that overlooks the grounds near Geneva Lake. Officials did not release the name or age of the diner who was bitten. After the animal was captured, it was taken to a veterinary clinic and euthanized so tissue could be sent to the state laboratory for rabies testing, authorities said. Public health staff said the negative rabies result means the exposed diner’s care can be guided without waiting for a prolonged observation period. Investigators said they do not know how the raccoon got into the ceiling space. There were no reports of other injuries, and deputies said no structural damage beyond fallen tiles was immediately apparent in the dining room.
Resort representatives said employees followed established steps for wildlife intrusions: contacting law enforcement and animal-control professionals, clearing the area around the animal, and helping guests move to another space while responders worked. “A raccoon entered the building last night. Animal Control was contacted, and the animal was removed,” the operator said in a brief statement, emphasizing guest safety. Snorek, who said his company handles similar calls during cold snaps, noted that animals sometimes enter warm attic spaces or soffits through small openings when temperatures drop, then become disoriented and fall through weakened tiles or vents. Authorities stressed that Sunday’s case involved a single animal and that there is no indication of a broader problem at the property.
Ceiling intrusions by wildlife are unusual but not unheard of at large properties that include kitchens, banquet rooms and older ventilation chases. Responders on Sunday mapped the area above the dining room and checked for signs of a den or nesting material. They did not report any other animals inside. Facility staff scheduled follow-up inspections of rooflines and utility penetrations near the affected section, according to information shared with local news outlets. Deputies also photographed the fallen tile, scattered insulation and the spot where the raccoon landed near a table setting. Diners described a sudden thump, followed by a blur of movement and a rush of chairs as staff ushered people back.
Authorities said no criminal charges are anticipated. The sheriff’s office handled the initial scene, while the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, coordinated post-exposure guidance for the injured guest. Because the raccoon’s test came back negative, officials said the medical path is clearer for the person who was bitten. The resort planned to work with contractors to reseal any points of entry and to verify that ceiling spaces are secure before reopening the room. Officials did not announce any formal closure but said the affected area was taken out of service for cleanup and inspection.
Diners who were present said the commotion lasted only a few minutes from the fall to the animal’s capture. One couple who had been seated near the windows recalled seeing staff move quickly to create space around the raccoon, then hearing the pop of a ceiling tile and the scrape of the can as responders lowered it. Snorek said crews did “all the right things” in the moment by calling professionals and ensuring the bitten guest reached a hospital for evaluation. Video released later by local media shows an officer guiding the control pole while another person slides a large tote over the animal to contain it.
As of late Sunday, deputies said the raccoon tested negative for rabies and no further threats were identified inside the restaurant. Officials did not provide additional details about the bitten diner’s condition. Follow-up building checks and any repair work to the ceiling space are expected to continue into the week, with the resort coordinating inspections and routine sanitation of the affected room.
Author note: Last updated December 22, 2025.