(Photo Credit: Guillaume Aricique)

Back in 1911, a box with a dead raccoon in it showed up in Washington D.C. at the office of Gerrit S. Miller. After pulling it out and inspecting it, he realized this raccoon was from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, and unlike anything he’d ever seen before. He christened it Procyon minor and in doing so changed the history of Guadeloupe forever.

Today we travel from the storage rooms of the Smithsonian to the sandy beaches of Guadeloupe, chasing the tale of this trash can tipping critter. All the while trying to uncover what it means to be special.

Produced and reported by Simon Adler.

Special thanks to Sally Stainier and Allie Pinel for all their help translating in Guadeloupe and New York respectively.

Thanks to Bernie Beelmeon, Paola Dvihally, Hervé Magnin, Guillaume Aricique, Laurence Baptiste-Salomon, David Xavier-Albert, Florian Kirchner, Matt Chew, and everyone at the ONCFS.

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Comments [41]

James Van Dyke from New South Wales, Australia

I really enjoyed this episode, as I do most Radiolab episodes. However, I do think it missed the boat on a few issues pertaining to invasive species, and reading the comments here I see that most of the commenters don't really understand these issues, either. Here in Australia, invasive species are one of our biggest problems, and there are heaps of ethical issues concerning their management. Politicians make popular statements about eradicating some of the more damaging species, like cane toads, foxes, cats, horses, etc. and these meet with varying degrees of approval (cane toads) and resistance (horses) from both within and outside Australia. As conservation biologists, I think we totally understand that to kill, poison, and otherwise eradicate many species, including those that are popular (like horses in Australia or Racoons in Guadalupe) is ethically confronting. Many people will argue against it by saying "it isn't the animal's fault", which I think Jad was getting at towards the end of this podcast. That is totally, 100% true, and it is also true that we have altered environments in so many ways that few, if any environments are truly "natural". For these reasons, there is a bit of a problem with how we subjectively define species as native and invasive. There is definitely a human value judgement there.

However, at the same time, we see clear ecological consequences of many invasive species, often on top of or at least in interaction with other human impacts. Here in Australia, cats and foxes are tremendously effective predators on heaps of native species- mammals, birds, and reptiles, and are definitely responsible for at least local extinctions of these animals. There is thus a clear need to manage their numbers, if we want to retain those native species. While this may sound like a value judgement (ie native species value > invasive species value), the consequences also include alterations to the foodweb, such that a fox impact is not just on the small mammal it eats, but also on the plant that the small mammal eats, or its competitor, or its native predators. These cascading effects can sweep through the foodweb, such that a fox, even if it drives only one species extinct directly be predation, could drive a number of other species extinct as well via indirect responses to the extinction of the prey. It's likely true that, given thousands or millions of years, natural selection will drive the evolution of new species that colonize the resulting open niches, but that's an eventuality that we cannot predict with any certainty. Still, the value judgement remains.

Is it more ethical to eradicate a cute and charismatic animal that has demonstrative negative impacts on a local ecosystem, or is it more ethical to eradicate that animal so that some variety of native species can survive? Where do the respective ethics/values of invasive vs native species intersect? Which supersedes the other?

Jun. 07 2017 07:51 PM

Aaron Estis from Atlanta, GA

This story reminds me of the debate I sometimes have with southerners who adore the confederate flag. Many of them became attached to the flag through a false narrative - that it really just stands for southern heritage, regional pride, etc, which parallels the false narrative - the raccoons of Guadeloupe are a separate and endangered species. When you point out to them that historians have uncovered the real meaning of the flag and the confederacy it represented through analysis of the secession acts of the states that joined the confederacy, (Scientists have analyzed the DNA of the Guadeloupe raccoon) they feel as though something that is part of their core identify is being attacked. Facts vs feeling? Isn't that often the terms of debate or many of our intractable issues?

May. 30 2017 08:54 AM

I love the show. It's unmissable.

This episode was no exception.

The locals who ignored the science that the raccoon was imported/invasive reminds me of climate change deniers. Their own world view overriding important scientific realities.

It is an interesting insight into that mindset.

Feb. 13 2017 06:36 AM

Tara B from San Francisco

A quick discussion about the impact of colonialism and racism on Guadalupe and the collision of values is necessary and missing. The Conservationist approach is not patently better or righter than the Guadalupean approach to their pest-pets, this is where colonialism has entered and obscured the discourse.

Feb. 08 2017 02:20 PM

Serge Halvorsen from New Haven

Your show is, hands down, one of the very best ever! Distilled digital audio awesomeness every time.

I recently listened to Stranger in Paradise and I laughed out loud during the sponsor break for Rocket Mortgage in the middle of the show.

Rocket Mortgage -> Rocket the cybernetically modified raccoon (Guardians of the Galaxy) -> guadeloupe raccoon

Well played Radiolab, well played indeed!

Feb. 07 2017 07:01 PM

Suzanne from Paris, France

Hi Radiolab!
I just want to make a quick correction. At the beginning of the episode, Guadeloupe as a French oversees department is described as a "territory." It's actually more like the French equivalent of Hawaii. Administratively speaking, Guadeloupe is as much a part of mainland France as l'Aquitaine or Ile de France.

France also has territories which are named "territoires."
Just like how Puerto Rico is a territory of the US.

Anyway,
Thank you for making my commute 1000x better.

Feb. 04 2017 02:41 AM

Andrew from Seattle, WA

What's the name of the song in the background around 27-28 minutes of the podcast?
Thanks!

Feb. 03 2017 05:12 PM

Kevin Acosta from Los Angeles

The Cozumel Raccoon is an island raccoon that has been called a separate species, that's just up the coast in the Caribbean, in Mexico. Give it enough time and the Guadeloupe Raccoon may become their local equivalent.

I thought they were similar when at the opening of the program you mentioned that the raccoon was smaller than the mainland counterparts, which is one of the traits of the Cozumel raccoon.

Anyway, I love trash pandas. I don't encourage people keeping them as pets, but they are smart animals.

Feb. 02 2017 12:53 PM

Robert Taylor-Jones from UK

Really interesting episode!

It reminded me of an excellent book I read recently that mentioned the Racoon story in passing: "Where Do Camels Belong?" By Ken Thompson.

It's a book that basically sets out to demolish the entire idea of "invasive" species as an inherently negative thing. And I think it makes a really compelling case. It certainly rubbishes the idea of animals "belonging" anywhere, which I noticed one of the scientists on your programme said.

Like, take these racoons. They were a rare endemic species, so of course they had to be protected. Then they were an endangered species and had to be controlled. But the whole time the racoons were doing the same thing! Whether they were eating the eggs of rare birds or controlling the populations of pests or whatever, they were doing it just as well or badly before as they are now. The good of the whole ecosystem is the most important thing, surely?

I'd really recommend the book, anyway. Love the show.

Jan. 31 2017 04:15 PM

WHAT song is playing at the end of this episode. it SLAPS! Also RadioLab is amazing.

Jan. 31 2017 02:38 PM

Sjoerd van Leeuwen from Amsterdam

I really loved the episode! A couple of years back I made an artwork about the "nazi raccoons" from Germany. I cycled back to their point of origin from the Netherlands (where I live) and found the tree into which the raccoons were released. The final artwork was a lecture performance with slides. I case you are interested you can watch it via the follow link: http://www.sjoerdvanleeuwen.nl/he-who-scratches-with-his-hands/video/

groeten and thanks for producing my favorite podcast for years already,

Jan. 31 2017 12:26 PM

Earl West from MN

I keep thinking about the couple who were raising watermelons. They said they got guard dogs, and the raccoons ripped the dog to pieces. I am not sure how they could think the raccoons were still cute and cuddly after seeing this poor dog had been ripped into pieces. Would they have still felt this way if the dog had been their pet, and what makes them think the raccoons wouldn't have done the same to them if they had tried to stave of the little vermin?

Jan. 30 2017 12:33 PM

Nathan from Monterey

The islanders interviewed in this story are no better than President Trump; They place their own selfish desires and political concerns above the consensus view for best wildlife management practices.

Jan. 30 2017 08:27 AM

TK from Australia

Long time listener, first time commenter.

I found the episode to be interesting and informative, I was particularly touched when Simon broke the news to Na. She still holds her lost pet so dearly to her heart and to tell her that not only was her beloved pet not special because it wasn't unique, but that active culling of other racoons is encouraged is quite cruel. Sure, it makes for compelling radio, but at what cost?
Most people can relate to losing a pet which essentially becomes family and to tell them that their pet is a pest, now hunted, I thought was unnecessary. You can hear it in her voice. Just my two cents.

Jan. 30 2017 02:45 AM

Tanvi from New Orleans

I have been listening to Radiolab for a long time and have never written in, but this episode made me want to express why I love this show. Just like my other favorite Radiolab episodes, this one was funny, poignant, and made convincing cases for both science and human emotion in challenging situations in the way that Radiolab is so wonderful at doing. One request, though. Can we please see a picture of Na and Petit Sofi? It would make me so happy!

Jan. 28 2017 10:47 PM

Danielle Tougas from Calgary, Canada

I enjoyed the episode but I have to object a little to the idea that a nation's animal is noble and reflective of the country - in Canada, our unofficial animal is the beaver and we're quite cognizant that it's not a particularly noble, smart or elegant animal. Perhaps it reflects our self-deprecation? Most likely, it's just a reflection of the importance of the fur trade to the development of Canada as a nation.

Jan. 27 2017 09:29 PM

phil from England

Just to put that “you’re going to be waiting a long time" into context, the Tundra swans and Whooper swans probably look identical to most non zoologists yet you’d have to go back around 1.3 million years to find a common ancestor between them.

Assuming both life on Earth in General and humanity in particular are still around by the time Guadeloupe Raccoons are worth reclassifying, I suspect we’ll be too busy colonizing other galaxies to bother.

Jan. 27 2017 06:21 PM

Lisa Kline Simon from Portland, Oregon

It is upsetting that anytime there is a RadioLab episode involving animals, Jad and Robert talk about them as if they are things to be disposed of rather sentient beings with whom we share the earth. I only got to the point in this episode where Jad decided raccoons are "gross" and "immoral" and then advocated shooting or poisoning them. To me, that's pretty gross and immoral. I turned it off and couldn't help but be reminded of the episode where gov't officials were using a goat to attract other goats so they could gun them down from helicopters -- Jad and Robert laughing at their suffering all the while. I wish they would just stop doing episodes involving animals altogether. So depressing.

Jan. 27 2017 03:59 PM