While many other species around the world are in decline, raccoons are actually thriving. Part of that is because they’re amazing at adapting to new challenges.

A large part of their success is due to their adaptability to new challenges and opportunities, whether that’s nesting in cozy chimneys, invading chicken coops, or breaking into trash bins—something that’s earned them the nickname “trash pandas.”

Raccoons are strong—they can push a cinder block off a trash can—and tenacious. The more we do to keep them out, the more skills they learn for breaking in, leading to a cognitive arms race between people and raccoons.

Native to a large swath of North America, from southern Canada to the edge of South America, raccoons were a familiar sight to Indigenous people in the pre-Colonial era. The word raccoon can be traced back to the Proto-Algonquian word ärähkun, deriving from the phrase “he scratches with his hands.” Early taxonomists named them for a related, notable behavior: Ursus lotor translates as “washer bear,” and around the world, the local word for raccoon often includes some mention of washing. It’s based on the adorable—but not totally accurate—idea that raccoons wash their food before eating. 

 So, how can we keep these little bandits out of the trash cans and stop the from stealing our Door Dash orders? Well for that, you'll have to read the full story!