How did raccoons evolve to be so smart?

Answer 1

Yes, of course! Some animals are smarter than others, but we are finding out that animals are smarter than we think!

For example: an octopus, let loose in a library, will climb the shelves of books and scatter them about. They also learn very quickly to open bottles with twist-top caps! Orcas (killer whales) in the wild adapt their hunting technique to their prey, and often tease humans! Some orca have been recorded 100 miles upsteam in the Columbia River (frehwater), presumably hunting for salmon.

Answer 2

Here's how evolution works: organisms which have characteristics that help them to survive better do survive, and they pass on the genes for those traits to their offspring. Organisms with traits that don't work so well ... get eaten! (or sometimes they just die out because they can't find enough food) ... those organisms don't pass on their genes, so over time the organisms become more and more adapted to survive. Sometime in the past, a raccoon-like animal was born with a slightly smarter brain and more flexible hand-paws, and that animal turned out to be really good at finding food and escaping from danger. It reproduced, and it's offspring were a little smarter than it was, and even better at surviving. Modern raccoons have hands that work almost as well as ours do, and they're really smart. Evolution is really just separating the organisms into "Keep" and "Throw Out" piles! Only the ones who are good at surviving will survive and reproduce.

Answer 3

Only a few studies have been undertaken to determine the mental abilities of raccoons, most of them based on the animal's sense of touch. In a study by the ethologist H. B. Davis in 1908, raccoons were able to open 11 of 13 complex locks in fewer than 10 tries and had no problems repeating the action when the locks were rearranged or turned upside down. Davis concluded they understood the abstract principles of the locking mechanisms and their learning speed was equivalent to that of rhesus macaques. Studies in 1963, 1973, 1975 and 1992 concentrated on raccoon memory showed they can remember the solutions to tasks for up to three years. (adapted from Wikipedia)

Answer 4

• Yes, they remember places where there is good food and shelter.

• They are as smart as cats and dogs.
  

Answer 5

No They are the dumbest animals! They poke their noses inside cans.

Answer 6

I would say not. Humans are definitely the smartest animals. Outside of humans, maybe dolphins and monkeys.

Answer 7

No, raccoons are quite intelligent. They are capable of solving complex puzzles and remember the solution for 3 years or more.

Answer 8

Raccoons are quite intelligent. They are able to solve complex puzzles and remember the the solution for three years or more.

Answer 9

Raccoons are quite intelligent and can quickly learn to solve a number of puzzles. They can remember the solutions for 3 years or more.

Answer 10

Some would say smarter than a house cat.