City raccoons evolving shorter snouts
Urban raccoons are evolving shorter snouts, a sign of domestication, according to a new study.
Why it matters
- Shows domestication can start without human intervention.
- Changes our understanding of how animals adapt to urban life.
By the numbers
- Nearly 20,000 raccoon photos analyzed.
- Urban raccoons' snouts are 3.5% shorter than rural ones.
The big picture
- Similar changes seen in urban foxes and mice.
- Suggests a broader pattern of urban-driven evolution.
What they're saying
- Commenters joke about future pet raccoons.
- One notes that friendlier animals might get fed by humans.
Caveats
- Study based on observational data from photos.
- More research needed on genetics and stress hormones.
What’s next
- Researchers plan to trap raccoons for genetic and hormone tests.
- Will study other species like armadillos and opossums.