RASCALLY RACOONS

The Friday File: While it took thousands of years to turn wolves into domesticated dogs, evolution is working faster with racoons and making them cuter. Easy food rewards bolder racoons, who are willing to rummage through garbage, but also well-behaved racoons. Tameness is associated with shorter snouts, smaller heads, floppy ears, and white patches. This reduced fight-or-flight response is passed on. It’s known as Domestication Syndrome and noted by Darwin.