These Adorable, Critically Endangered Pygmy Raccoons in Cozumel Are Teaching One Another to Turn Trash Into Toy Balls
9 Articles
9 Articles
On this Mexican island, raccoons make and play with toys (and also sip margaritas)
Scientists observed a family of pygmy raccoons near a Cozumel beach club learning from one another how to craft balls from paper, an indication that the animals have a culture.
While tourists were drinking margaritas and relaxing in a nearby beach club on a warm January day in Cozumel, Mexico, a scientist observed a young female raccoon enjoying her own type of leisure. The researcher observed how the raccoon pulled out of a trash can an elongated paper receipt, turned it into a ball and started hitting it between his legs as if it were a football. But then, according to researchers, the animal did something even more …
"Obviously," she added, "it was adorable."
As tourists drank margaritas and lounged at a nearby beach club on a warm January day in Cozumel, Mexico, a scientist observed a young female raccoon partaking in her own kind of leisure. The researcher watched as the raccoon pulled from a trash can a long paper receipt, sculpted it into a ball and began batting it between her paws like a football. But then, researchers say, the animal did something even more surprising — she taught her family h…
These Adorable, Critically Endangered Pygmy Raccoons in Cozumel Are Teaching One Another to Turn Trash Into Toy Balls
Smithsonian Magazine reported The observations offer rare evidence of a skill being passed among raccoons. But the work also highlights the effects of human pollution at the popular tourist destination Read on www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-adorable-critically-endangered-pygmy-raccoons-in-cozumel-are-teaching-one-another-to-turn-trash-into-toy-balls-180989459/
On a Mexican island, two young females were observed removing paper from the garbage, wetting the material and turning it into small balls to play. Cozumel's raccoons-pigmaus behavior caught attention because one sister watched the other perform the sequence and then managed to repeat it, raising the possibility of social learning and even in a way...
While tourists drank margaritas and relaxed in a nearby beach club, on a hot January day in Cozumel, Mexico, a scientist observed a young female raccoon having fun. Read more (09/27/2026)
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