It’s short, it’s fluffy, it’s absolutely adorable, and apparently it’s the newest celebrity of the mammalian world. The olinguito is the latest discovery announced by Smithsonian scientists in Washington; and it is now being welcomed as yet another cute and cuddly member of the raccoon family. It is a rarity, after all, and is therefore treasured by many people; unfortunately, the same cannot be said for its masked black and white cousins, who are often taken out of properties through humane raccoon removal methods.
No bigger than a regular house cat—at roughly 2.5 feet long and weighing 2 pounds—the olinguito uses its agility to live and travel through the trees. This is one of the main reasons this species has managed to remain unknown for such a long time, and why it is only now that more facts on the animal are being discovered. There are four subspecies, with different colors and sizes, all of which are found in the Andes.
The olinguito is the first mammalian carnivore species to be discovered in the Americas in 35 years, and it is currently being studied by the research group of Smithsonian curator Kristofer Helgen. It wasn’t the first time this creature has been seen, though; it’s just that when people did see it before, it was usually just assumed to be another more commonly known animal. Described as looking like a cross between a domestic cat and a teddy bear, the olinguito is easy enough to mistake for various other cute critters. Just because something is cute, though, doesn’t mean people won’t consider it as a pest.
The raccoon is a perfect example of an adorable animal that many people, nevertheless, want out of their homes. Being omnivores, there is little that raccoons wouldn’t eat, which is a big annoyance for people when raccoons come in and eat pet food, livestock feeds, and even garbage. Rabies is also a big risk when dealing with wild raccoons, so it is easy enough to understand why many homeowners would prefer not to deal with these animals taking residence in their property.
Still, as much as raccoons are considered “pests”, it is just as important to make sure they are dealt with through humane Toronto raccoon removal services. This is why you should call in professional pest control services such as those offered by Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. With experienced personnel taking the rein in dealing with your animal troubles, both you and the critter would come out happy and satisfied.
As it flourishes in the Andean wilds, the olinguito is not considered a pest to society; but so many other animals are. However, you can’t really blame animals that are only following instincts; so the best thing would be to reintroduce them to a habitat where they would be able to live without making trouble for anyone. It’s not only rare animals that deserve to be treasured and protected.