Have you ever wanted a pet raccoon? 

Well, here’s a possible sign that dream is slowly approaching:  a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology suggests raccoons are getting closer to domestication. 

The study is not definitive yet, and more research is required. But it all has to do with researchers observing a shorter snout on the animals we affectionately refer to as trash pandas. 

GUEST
Marina Wang, freelance journalist

RELATED LINKS
Raccoons Are Showing Early Signs of Domestication - Scientific American

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Have you ever wanted a pet raccoon?&nbsp;
Well, here&rsquo;s a possible sign that dream is slowly approaching:&nbsp; <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12983-025-00583-1">a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology</a> suggests raccoons are getting closer to domestication.&nbsp;
The study is not definitive yet, and more research is required. But it all has to do with researchers observing a shorter snout on the animals we affectionately refer to as trash pandas.&nbsp;
GUEST
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.marina-wang.com/">Marina Wang, freelance journalist</a></li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/raccoons-are-showing-early-signs-of-domestication/">Raccoons Are Showing Early Signs of Domestication </a>- Scientific American</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

A new study suggests that urban raccoons are developing slightly shorter snouts than their rural counterparts. 

What the length of raccoon snouts has to do with domestication

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

GUEST: KUOW Politics Editor Cat Smith

TODAY'S TOPICS:
Flooding

Live updates: Western Washington braces for more rain and flooding this week - KUOW
Canlis

A market of extremes: How 2026 will impact restaurant winners and losers - Restaurant Dive
Grandpa Rivers & the Indianapolis Colts

Philip Rivers hadn't played an NFL game in 5 years. The grandfather nearly upset a Super Bowl contender. - NBC

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now &ndash; and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. It&rsquo;s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.
GUEST: KUOW Politics Editor Cat Smith
TODAY'S TOPICS:
<ul>
<li>Flooding
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/rivers-have-crested-but-western-washington-flood-threat-continues-to-loom">Live updates: Western Washington braces for more rain and flooding this week - KUOW</a><a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/kuow-staff"></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Canlis
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/restaurant-finance-development-conference-rfdc-bifurcated-performance-consumers/806988/">A market of extremes: How 2026 will impact restaurant winners and losers - Restaurant Dive</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Grandpa Rivers &amp; the Indianapolis Colts
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/philip-rivers-colts-nfl-seahawks-rcna249182">Philip Rivers hadn't played an NFL game in 5 years. The grandfather nearly upset a Super Bowl contender. - NBC</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

Front Page: Flooding, food prices, and one really old quarterback

It’s been a busy year for the Seattle Police Department. 

A new chief was sworn in, the longstanding federal consent decree ended and the city reached a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that changes how it can approach unarmed crisis response.

Plus, a new mayor will take office in January.

Mayor-elect Katie Wilson announced this week that she planned to retain Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, despite some rumors to the contrary. 

Soundside's Libby Denkmann talked with Barnes on the morning of Thursday, December 11th, about the incoming administration, the recent policing shooting in Othello, and more. 

Note: Starting at 7:45 in the interview, Barnes cites several statistics about a drop in crime. We asked SPD for more information about the decreased crime percentages, and they said Barnes is referencing the first 11 months of 2025 compared to 2024. But in reference to homicides, the information SPD gave us cites 2019 as the last comparable year, and the reduction is actually 36 percent, instead of 35 percent, as Barnes states. 

Guest
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes

Related Links

Seattle City Council approves new police contract, boosting pay and expanding crisis response -KUOW

Seattle police video shows officers fatally shooting allegedly armed man - The Seattle Times

Seattle City Council Approves Police Contract as South End Mourns Killing in Othello - South Seattle Emerald

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

It&rsquo;s been a busy year for the Seattle Police Department.&nbsp;
A new chief was sworn in, the longstanding federal consent decree ended and the city reached a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that changes how it can approach unarmed crisis response.
Plus, a new mayor will take office in January.
Mayor-elect Katie Wilson announced this week that she planned to retain Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, despite some rumors to the contrary.&nbsp;
Soundside's Libby Denkmann talked with Barnes on the morning of Thursday, December 11th, about the incoming administration, the recent policing shooting in Othello, and more.&nbsp;
Note: Starting at 7:45 in the interview, Barnes cites several statistics about a drop in crime. We asked SPD for more information about the decreased crime percentages, and they said Barnes is referencing the first 11 months of 2025 compared to 2024. But in reference to homicides, the information SPD gave us cites 2019 as the last comparable year, and the reduction is actually 36 percent, instead of 35 percent, as Barnes states.&nbsp;
Guest Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes
Related Links
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-city-council-approves-new-police-contract-boosting-pay-expanding-crisis-response">Seattle City Council approves new police contract, boosting pay and expanding crisis response -KUOW</a> <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/seattle-police-video-shows-officers-fatally-shoot-allegedly-armed-man/">Seattle police video shows officers fatally shooting allegedly armed man</a> - The Seattle Times
<a href="https://southseattleemerald.org/news/2025/12/10/seattle-city-council-approves-police-contract-as-south-end-mourns-killing-in-othello">Seattle City Council Approves Police Contract as South End Mourns Killing in Othello</a> - South Seattle Emerald Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

It's been a busy year for Seattle's police chief. We also talked with him about a new SPOG contract, the 2026 World Cup, and more.  

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes weighs in on the police shooting in Othello and a new mayor-elect

KUOW Reporter Joshua McNichols

KUOW Reporter John Ryan

KUOW Reporter Casey Martin

Credits

Catastrophic flooding continues to threaten Washington. 

Around 100,000 people in Western Washington have been advised to evacuate. 

Hundreds of Washington National Guard members have been tapped to help with response efforts.

And Gov. Ferguson declared a statewide emergency in response to the flooding. 

We talked to three KUOW reporters about what they're seeing on the ground and what we need to know about this weather event. 

CORRECTION: As of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, approximately 100,000 people were advised to evacuate across Western Washington. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Skagit County issued immediate evacuation orders to 100,000 residents.

GUESTS:
KUOW Reporter Joshua McNichols
KUOW Reporter John Ryan
KUOW Reporter Casey Martin

RELATED LINKS: 
KUOW - Live updates: 100,000 evacuated in historic Skagit Valley flood in Washington state
KUOW - Western Washington faces 'catastrophic' flooding as two atmospheric rivers dump heavy rain
Live: Flooding in WA’s Skagit, Snohomish rivers prompt road closures, evacuations | The Seattle Times
Skagit River creeps toward Mount Vernon flood wall | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Catastrophic flooding continues to threaten Washington.&nbsp;
Around 100,000 people in Western Washington have been advised to evacuate.&nbsp;
Hundreds of Washington National Guard members have been tapped to help with response efforts.
And Gov. Ferguson declared a statewide emergency in response to the flooding.&nbsp;
We talked to three KUOW reporters about what they're seeing on the ground and what we need to know about this weather event.&nbsp;
CORRECTION: As of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, approximately 100,000 people were advised to evacuate across Western Washington. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Skagit County issued immediate evacuation orders to 100,000 residents.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">KUOW Reporter Joshua McNichols</li>
<li aria-level="1">KUOW Reporter John Ryan</li>
<li aria-level="1">KUOW Reporter Casey Martin</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/go-now-100-000-evacuated-in-historic-skagit-flood">KUOW - Live updates: 100,000 evacuated in historic Skagit Valley flood in Washington state</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/western-washington-faces-catastrophic-flooding-as-two-atmospheric-rivers-dump-heavy-rain">KUOW - Western Washington faces 'catastrophic' flooding as two atmospheric rivers dump heavy rain</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/wa-floods-road-closures-and-evacuation-order-in-skagit-flood-plain/?utm_source=link&amp;utm_medium=social#update-19140284">Live: Flooding in WA&rsquo;s Skagit, Snohomish rivers prompt road closures, evacuations | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/skagit-river-creeps-toward-mount-vernon-flood-wall/">Skagit River creeps toward Mount Vernon flood wall | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Catastrophic flooding continues to threaten Washington. We talked to three KUOW reporters about what they're seeing on the ground and what we need to know about this weather event. 

What the length of raccoon snouts has to do with domestication

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