Following the popular TikTok trend starring a raccoon, these animals became the favorites of millions of people around the world. His curious and charismatic personality are some of the factors behind this fame. However, there are other reasons why it could be considered a extraordinary animal.
Characterized by distinctive black fur around the eyes that simulates a maskthese native North American mammals are the largest of the mammal family. procyonids (group in which specimens such as cacomixtles, coatis and kinkajous are found).
They are extremely intelligent, they have the habit of washing their food before consuming it and they manage to adapt to different life situations.
- The raccoons (Procyon lotor) are endowed with enormous intelligence because, according to a study published in 2017 cited by the magazine National Geographicthey are able to pass the proof of Aesop’s fablean examination during which the animal is presented with a vase of water whose level is too low to reach the snacks located at the bottom.
- To pass the test, commonly performed by crows, the animal must introduce stones or pebbles to raise the level of the liquid and thus reach its long-awaited reward.
- In that study, scientists placed marshmallows and showed the raccoons what they had to do to reach them. Two of the eight mammals replicated the behavior and took the treasure.
- They are able to adapt effectively in different environments. According to Suzanne MacDonald, a psychology professor at New York University, she told the outlet that during a study in 2014, she placed cat food at the bottom of a covered trash can.
- Thanks to this experiment, he discovered that raccoons accustomed to an urban environment looked for the lid of the container, while those in rural areas sniffed the bottom of the garbage can.
- “We are constantly making new trash cans and locks, if they want to survive, they have to discover our things,” the teacher declared in an interview for the magazine.
- They are one of the few wild animals native to North America whose growth is not restricted by urbanization and human development, as they easily adapted to their new environment, according to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Animals & Plantsa nonprofit organization that operates the San Diego Zooone of the most important theme parks in the United States and the world.
- They have the curious habit of washing their food before consuming it, in fact, according to theme park specialists, their Latin name lotor It means “the washing machine” and they usually live in places where water is available such as swamps, meadows and forests.
- They are mostly nocturnal, however, when they urgently need food, they go out to search during the day without straying too far from the safety of their dens.
- They have extremely dexterous front paws with which they are capable of picking locks and sneaking into trash cans and containers; This ability also makes them expert swimmers, although zoo specialists assure that they are reluctant to get wet, since their fur is not waterproof.
- There are six species of raccoons in addition to the North American one that live on tropical islands.
They were introduced in other parts of the world and have a large presence in Germany, Russia and Japan.
In Japan, raccoons were introduced following the popularity of the 1977 anime “Rascal the Raccoon”. At that time, about 1,500 raccoons were imported per month with the aim of becoming pets for children who loved the animated series and, lacking natural predators, they proliferated in the wild.
