Raccoons may be inching closer to becoming America’s next pets. Affectionately referred to as “trash pandas,” the masked mammals, known for rummaging through trashcans for food, are evolving based on their proximity to humans, even starting to look cuter. The backyard bandits are widespread across the U.S., and their ability to thrive in both wild and urban settings has left them occupying an unusual place in American life. In some neighborhoods, they're beloved pets; in others, persistent pests. The proximity to humans could signal that the creatures are growing more comfortable around humans, dampening their innate flight responses. Trash is the key — wherever humans go, there’s trash. However, to take advantage of this endless buffet, raccoons must strike a delicate balance: bold enough to root through trashcans in human environments, but not so bold as to pose a threat. Scientists say raccoons are showing a physical shift in their features that's consistent with the early stages of domestication. Those traits are seen among dogs that evolved from wolves and cats that evolved from wildcats. Who knows, before long raccoons could be wearing the latest pet fashions and being toted around in a handbag.
