US EditionCity Raccoons Near Humans Show Early Signs of Domestication
Researchers analyzed nearly 20,000 images and found city raccoons have shorter snouts, indicating early domestication likely driven by access to human trash, the study says.
- A new study suggests that city raccoons are slowly becoming domesticated due to their shorter snouts, a classic indicator of domestication syndrome.
- The study, led by Dr. Raffaela Lesch, analyzed nearly 20,000 images of raccoons across the United States and found that urban raccoons have shorter snouts than their rural counterparts.
- Lesch theorizes that the main driver of raccoon domestication is human trash, as urban raccoons that are calmer and less fearful of humans can more easily access discarded food.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Researchers found 1 tiny change in raccoons that could bring them closer to being our pets
If you have ever watched a raccoon confidently tiptoe across a fence or dive into a trash bin like it owns the place and felt utter delight, you might be thrilled to learn that new research has found these little bandits are cooking up new ways to melt our hearts…including picking up physical traits we associate with pets.Scientists say city raccoons may be showing early signs of domestication, an idea that first sparked Raffaela Lesch, a zoolog…
It is one of the most fascinating surprises that has been found in the animal kingdom; the shrewd urban raccoon could be developing a shorter snout, a key physical trait of pets and other domesticated animals. The new find describes what, according to a biologist, could be the first case of domestication in its earliest stages. For Raffaela Lesch, assistant professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, inspiration came to him as he wal…
It is one of the most fascinating surprises that has been found in the animal kingdom; the cunning urban raccoon could be developing a shorter snout, a key physical trait of pets and other domesticated animals.
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