In a viral video, a pet owner shared the morning routine of their pet raccoon, and internet users can’t cope with it.
The Instagram clip, shared in November under the username @ohnoitsrolo, shows the raccoon, Rolo, yawning and stretching as he wakes up in the morning while his owner gives him some cuddles, before going back under the blanket, where it is warm and safe.
“POV [point of view]: you’ve always wondered how a house raccoon spends his mornings…” the caption says.
“Cold weather means extra naps…but Rolo doesn’t fully hibernate. Raccoons go into torpor—a lighter winter sleep where their body temp drops and they slow down…But they still wake up for snacks, cuddles, and playtime. Hibernation = See you in spring. Torpor = I’ll be back after this nap.”
While raccoons may look like friendly fluffballs who can be turned into household pets, experts warn against taking them home.
Lisa Kelly, animal care supervisor at Teatown Lake Reservation, told Newsweek that, in some states, for example in New York, it is not legal to keep raccoons as pets, but the legality of it is not the only problem.
“Raccoons are wild animals that are known carriers of rabies, which, once symptoms appear, is fatal,” Kelly said.
Moreover, along with the risk of disease, raccoons can be destructive to property and pose a danger to humans and pets.
Kelly said that raccoons are highly adaptable and have learned that where humans are there is most likely easy sources of food, i.e., trash, bird feeders, pet food. While raccoons may appear “friendly,” they are really just seeking easy access to food.
“In many states, it is illegal to possess any wildlife without the proper licenses through state agencies. It is also illegal to feed wildlife,” Kelly said.
“Often, people offer food sources that cause more harm than good, and it also encourages wildlife to be closer to humans in a way that is often dangerous for both the humans and wildlife,” she added.
Instagram embed will be rendered here
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 2 million views and almost 200,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Aname_idk, commented: “Racoons after realizing they get infinite food if they just let us pet them.”
Maybemanders said: “I would move mountains to have that stretch and yawn in my life.”
Kaylinavs added: “Why is it so friend-shaped if not friend?”
Newsweek reached out to @ohnoitsrolo for comment via Instagram. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.