Researchers say RACCOONS may be inching closer to becoming pets.
A study from the University of Arkansas' Department of Biology found that raccoons are physically changing in response to their interactions with humans.
And by "physically-changing" they mean their faces are evolving . . . to look CUTER. They're not dumpster-diving less, or becoming less disease-ridden.
One biologist says, "Once wild animals start spending time in the proximity of people, they become a little bit less afraid and perhaps even start showing physical signs of domestication syndrome."
Raccoons aren't the only animals that this is happening to. FOXES and MICE that live in urban areas also have softer facial features.
But let's NOT make this a new trend.
These animals do NOT make great pets, and it's even illegal in some areas. They may look cute, but both foxes and raccoons can be quite destructive, and need lots of space and "wildness" in their environments.