Recent studies have shown that raccoons are showing early signs of domestication. Raccoons in urban areas have become so familiar with human life that they are beginning to physically change in order to appear “cuter.” The creatures are known to be drawn to trash from humans, and to feed off of it. It is because of this fact and the trash’s proximity to human life, that they have had the need to become familiar with humans. The study shows that raccoons are evolving to have smaller snouts, which is an early stage in domestication, as noted by the process seen in cats and dogs in the past. The study also notes that there is a noticeable difference between the snouts of raccoons specifically in urban areas versus rural ones. A noticed pattern between animals that have become domesticated was given the label “domesticated syndrome.” The physical traits of this syndrome seem to include: floppy ears, smaller heads and snouts, and white patches of fur. The main signs seen from raccoons seem to be their temperament, as well as the changes noticed with their physical features.  Regarding their temperaments, they must seem non-threatening and somewhat tame in order to be allowed within or close to human spaces. The evolution of their snouts is a way for them to appeal to humans more, and it seems to be working!