After the popular “Rascal Raccoon” cartoon series in the late 1970s, Japanese families rushed out to buy raccoons as pets. They discovered that the animals are rascally, as in the series, but much harder to care for than expected, so many abandoned their pets. Those pets bred and the number of raccoons has exploded, creating a scourge of raccoons in Tokyo. Hosts Carol Hills and Carolyn Beeler explain.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!