this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2025
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Raccoons

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City Raccoons Are Evolving to Look More Like Pets (www.scientificamerican.com)
submitted 4 months ago by Gsus4@mander.xyz to c/raccoons@lemmy.world
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[–] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 22 points 4 months ago (3 children)

If not domesticated pet, why look as cute as domesticated pet? πŸ₯Ί

[–] tektite@slrpnk.net 13 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If not pet, why soft?

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 3 points 4 months ago

That's how my cousin lost his hand at the zoo :D

[–] VivianRixia@piefed.social 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

if not friend, why friend-shaped?

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Because looking cute helps them survive in a human-centric world.

[–] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 22 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Oh my god this is awesome.

I hear raccoons don't make very good pets but maybe we can turbo charge the process that's happening right now.

I want a pet raccoon

[–] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I think the main issue is how destructive they get in adolescence. Like a switch flips in their head and they start destroying shit and being aggressive.

[–] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It sounds like there's a possibility that living alongside humans is selecting against that though.

I'm sure that with a little help from my friend selective breeding we could turbo charge this naturally occurring process to produce lovable cuddly furry raccoon pets that I could call friends.

[–] meep_launcher@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Selective breeding? Are you a 19th century monk?

Where were going, we don't need no Punnett squares. We got CRISPR now.

[–] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I don't really give a shit how we get pet raccoons as long as I get a cuddly mischievous pet raccoon. Congrats, you're in charge of the project. Now go science me up a best friend.

[–] meep_launcher@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Attn: AMAZON PACKAGE DELIVERED Your TrashPanda by rAcunn has arrived. Please rate and tip your delivery driver. Upgrade to TrashPanda+ for an ad free experience. Powered by Grok.

^oh shit I added too much capitalism^

[–] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 months ago

I'll excuse capitalism if it provides me a pet raccoon. Just this once.

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

I want a pet raccoon

Same here, I've been saying it for ages!

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 11 points 4 months ago

Natural selection in action. It’s also why domestic cats’ calls sound less harsh than those of the Arabian wildcat, their nearest wild relative.

[–] QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works 10 points 4 months ago

OH MY GOD ITS HAPPENING

[–] etherphon@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I thought perhaps they wouldn't be needing so many smell receptors when food is readily available in any corner garbage can.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 3 points 4 months ago

Cool. Do foxes next.

[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

City-dwelling raccoons seem to be evolving a shorter snoutβ€”a telltale feature of our pets and other domesticated animals

Ironic racism joke warning |

spoilerMO a dog whistle saying the house raccoons have smaller noses.