Are Raccoons Evolving Into Pets?
The myth and science of the country’s favorite floofy, fluffy cuddle-badgers
In a Long Island neighborhood, raccoons were increasingly exhibiting behaviors that resembled domestication, leading some residents to consider them as pets. Marilyn Smith, a resident, recounted how raccoons had started appearing in her bedroom at night, rummaging through her belongings, and even challenging her cats for attention.
Though initially cautious, the raccoons grew increasingly familiar with human presence, showing less fear and more curiosity towards their human neighbors. As a result, Smith found herself hosting various raccoons and cats, struggling to manage their interactions and maintain her household. The situation escalated to the point where she had to endure the unpleasant smell of ammonia, raccoon scat on her stairs, and constant concern for her safety.
While she acknowledged the potential to feed the animals separately, the raccoons proved resistant to the change, spitting out certain types of food. The phenomenon, dubbed "domestication of raccoons," is a result of their adaptation to urban environments, becoming more curious and less reactive to humans. This transformation has caught the attention of researchers, who published a study on the subject, further fueling public fascination and the perception of raccoons as the new American pet.
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