Raccoons may be inching closer to becoming America's next pet. Affectionately referred to as trash pandas, the masked mammals known for rummaging rubbish bins for easy food, are evolving based on their proximity to humans, even starting to look cuter, a new study says. Evaluation of nearly 20,000 photos found 'a clear reduction in snout length' in urban raccoons compared to their rural cousins - a physical shift consistent with the early stages of domestication seen in cats and dogs. Some that have been adopted as pets have become TikTok celebrities. One particularly bold dumpster-diver even sprinted across the pitch during a Major League Soccer match in Philadelphia last year. The stripe-tailed mammals, also nicknamed 'backyard bandits', are widespread across the contiguous US. Their ability to thrive in both wild and urban settings has left them occupying an unusual space in American life - beloved pet in some neighborhoods, persistent pest in others. The proximity to humans could signal that the creatures are growing more comfortable around us, or, scientifically speaking, dampening their innate flight responses, according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology. The softening of their features could be due to shifts in their fight-or-flight response on the cellular level, it says. This urban domestication starts with trash, the study's co-author, Raffaela Lesch of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, told Scientific American. 'Trash is really the kickstarter,' she said. 'Wherever humans go, there's trash — and animals love our trash.' But to take advantage of this endless buffet, wildlife must strike a delicate balance: bold enough to root through bins and navigate human environments, yet not so bold as to pose a threat. 'If you have an animal that lives close to humans, you have to be well-behaved enough,' Lesch said. 'That selection pressure is quite intense.' The finding is consistent with the 'domestication syndrome phenotype'—anatomical changes observed during domestication, such as smaller brains and softer features. The study's authors also hypothesized that this process begins when animals initially adapt to human environments, suggesting that only those with reduced flight responses could thrive.
Raccoons: The Next Trendy Pet in America?
Raccoons: The Next Trendy Pet in America?
Could raccoons soon become a go-to choice for pets in American homes? A new study suggests changes in their physical traits may indicate they're evolving closer to human companionship.
A recent study reveals that raccoons, often referred to as 'trash pandas', are showing physical changes that might suggest they're evolving to be more pet-friendly. Researchers found urban raccoons have shorter snouts than their rural counterparts—a sign of potential domestication similar to what has been seen in dogs and cats. This urban survival mode makes these cute creatures both beloved pets and pesky intruders in American neighborhoods.
