Scientists think there is one on every block, perhaps 20 million in the United States. Now the ever present urban raccoon (P.i.lotor) may be showing signs of splitting from its wild cousin. Or perhaps not.
Wild raccoons and urban raccoons appear to be diverging. A new study says the urban dwellers are starting to show signs they are on the road to self domestication. It’s not expected to be a fast process.
Cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris) both self domesticated over millennia. Their wild ancestors detected benefits from human association and subtle changes in appearance, diet and temperament resulted. They led to closer association and eventual pet status.
A recent study says urban raccoons may be taking first steps along that path.
University of Arkansas biologist Raffaela Lesch co-authored the study which involved studying 20,000 photos of raccoons from across the country. According to their findings urban raccoons have snouts 3.5 percent shorter than wild relatives. No one seems to be sure exactly how self-domestication occurs. There is a neurological theory under debate. It is a theory about changes in neural development leading to domestication. But it could be as simple as proximity. An animal habituated to humans and their food waste may need less space for a sensory array. Urban raccoons have less need to hunt. Once humans are used to them there is less fear and the two animals may begin to bond. In the meantime don’t try to hug them. They are still wild.
On the other hand the changes may be illusory. The study may be flawed and not taking account of variations in subspecies. Subspecies may have significant variation in snouts. It may also depend too heavily on photos not real life studies of actual raccoons. that is least one opinion being floated on Instagram.
Speaking of Instagram if AI is not the culprit one could suspect domestication is well underway. Even a casual visit yields many videos of raccoons in close and apparently friendly interaction with people.
It appears raccoons are likely candidates for eventual self domestication. They are eating leftovers we give them. They are eating pet food. Perhaps it is important that they observe our interactions with pets. They are in very close proximity. Often living in or under our houses. If domestication is occurring it will not be soon.