Raccoons don't wash their food, but instead wet their 'hands' so that they can increase their sensitivity to touch! :3

The word 'raccoon' comes from the Powhatan word 'arahkunem' (also spelled) arocoun/arakhun) which translates to 'he scratches with the hands." <3

Hey there #Bluesky peeps! 🐾🦝 What’s up? Just stopping by to say hello. 👋😎🦝You sure are a curious bunch. 😉
Hope you have a great week!
Must scamper off to another adventure. 💙🦋
#Raccoons #Rocky #MaskedBandits #Wildlife #Animals #Arakun #Azeban #Arocoun #BeCurious #BeResourceful

1. You inspired me to look up raccoon - I did not realize they were native to north america
2. I did not realize the etymology: arocoun, from Algonquian (Powhatan) arahkun, from arahkunem "he scratches with the hands."

I like that Europeans, on first encountering raccoons, either took the indigenous names (the English took Algonquin arocoun, and the Spanish took the Aztec Nahuatl mapachtli)
Or were like, "shit, what is that? It's like a rat or a bear that washes"

In English too, more or less (it refers to the same motion)