Raffaela Lesch

Join zoologist Raffaela Lesch, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as she reveals fascinating insights from her study on urban raccoons. Learn how these clever creatures might be taking their first steps toward domestication. Raffaela discusses the signs of domestication syndrome, including shorter snouts observed in city-dwelling raccoons. She shares challenges in research methods and what could be potential next steps for urban raccoons in their journey to cohabitate with humans. Could you ever have a litter box-trained raccoon?

Join Raffaela Lesch, a biology expert researching raccoons and domestication, and Pamela Yeh, an ecology professor focused on urban evolution. They dive into how city-dwelling raccoons are evolving with shorter snouts, signaling potential domestication. They discuss the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on songbirds, revealing beak shape changes. Explore the continuum of domestication and what it might take for raccoons to become household pets, while reflecting on human impacts on urban wildlife.

Join Chuck Wexler, a policing policy expert, as he sheds light on the tension between local police and federal immigration enforcement. Khalid Omar, a community organizer, shares the trauma and resilience within Minnesota's Somali-American community amid harsh rhetoric and ICE operations. Adding a quirky twist, researcher Raffaela Lesch discusses her fascinating study on urban raccoons, revealing signs of early domestication and their adorable differences from rural counterparts. A mix of serious and playful topics awaits!