We Can and Should Domesticate Raccoons
The article explores the potential domestication of raccoons, emphasizing their intelligence and dexterity, and suggests genetic engineering could expedite this process, creating new roles in the growing pet industry.
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The article discusses the potential for domestication of raccoons, highlighting their intelligence, dexterity, and manageable size as key traits that could make them superior companions and assistants compared to traditional pets like dogs. Raccoons exhibit problem-solving abilities similar to primates and possess semi-opposable thumbs, allowing them to perform tasks such as opening doors and manipulating objects. The author references the Soviet Fox Domestication Experiment as a successful model for domestication, suggesting that similar methods could be applied to raccoons. Additionally, the article explores the possibility of using genetic engineering to expedite the domestication process, drawing parallels with Williams syndrome in humans, which is associated with sociability and certain physical traits. The growing pet industry presents a significant market opportunity for domesticated raccoons, which could serve various roles, including service animals, companions, and laborers in commercial settings. The potential impact of domesticated raccoons on society is vast, indicating a new frontier in human-animal relationships.
- Raccoons possess intelligence and dexterity that may surpass traditional pets.
- Successful domestication models exist, such as the Soviet Fox Domestication Experiment.
- Genetic engineering could accelerate the domestication process.
- The pet industry is projected to grow significantly, presenting market opportunities for domesticated raccoons.
- Domesticated raccoons could serve in various roles, including service animals and laborers.
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28 commentsTake the (very real) fox domestication as a counterexample -- the topline takeaway is about how cute and cuddly they became. A smart and cuddly pet would be a believable pitch, but a helpful, even productive "human assistant" is far less so.
With that said, there are raccoon breeders out there (according to Google), so this proposal might be 25-50 years too early, eventually ending up like chinchillas or other small, exotic mammals.
https://old.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/q5o9a5/c...
The pet industry is projected to grow from $320 billion to nearly $500 billion by 2030 (Bloomberg Intelligence, 2023). Domesticated raccoons could carve out a significant niche in this market, potentially rivaling the popularity of dogs.
Can racoon be trained to pee / defecate outside ?
What do they smell like ?
Sure, these issues can likely be bred out of the current animal, but still.
I stepped outside once to find a mother raccoon with two young. One immediately chewed on my right toe; then the other bit my left toe. I was glad I had taken the time to put on my track shoes before venturing outside.
I'm not necessarily saying we shouldn't domesticate raccoons, but we have to be really careful about what animals are allowed to pilot submarines. It's a serious issue!
I don't think there will be any new[1] dog breeds for the same reason.
1. New meaning actual new breed, not just new mixes.
I discussed in a thread already, but my guess is it’s not (fully) written by an LLM. The jokes are just-subtle enough to land, and the points are unexpected-yet-slightly-convincing. From LLMs I tend get info that’s overly obvious, or just wrong. I could believe an LLM was used for editing / flushing out an initial draft. Would love to know the true answer.
How a Kids’ Cartoon Created a Real-Life Invasive Army (2017)
https://nautil.us/how-a-kids-cartoon-created-a-real_life-inv...
tl;dr Pet raccoons were popular in Japan because of a popular cartoon and then at the end of the series everyone started releasing their pets into the wild and it caused them to overpopulate and do tons of damage to the ancient temples etc!
... and really big ostriches to populate Jurassic park
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