Not all animals are the graceful, noble creatures we often romanticize. Some, on the other hand, have earned a reputation for being a bit trashy—literally. These animals have adapted to eating our waste, and much of that behavior is a result of human influence.
Humans produce an overwhelming amount of garbage—around 268 million tons annually in the U.S. alone. This constant availability of discarded food, paired with the loss of natural habitats, has drawn wildlife into urban environments where they can easily access food in our trash cans and dumpsters, earning them the label of “nuisance.”
But which animals are the biggest trash lovers?
Here are six animals that, thanks to human waste, have become expert scavengers:
- Raccoons: Unwanted Guests Worldwide Raccoons have become an invasive species in places like Europe and Japan, primarily because people brought them into their homes as exotic pets. Though cute, these animals aren't domesticated and are still wild at heart. They can also carry diseases like rabies and roundworm. Domesticating a raccoon for social media fame might sound fun, but these creatures thrive in the wild—and in our trash.
- Opossums: Unsung Heroes in Lyme Disease Prevention While opossums may look odd and are often misunderstood, they play an important ecological role. These creatures are known for eating ticks, which helps reduce the spread of Lyme disease. Despite their sometimes eerie appearance and hissing behavior, opossums are beneficial to the environment and adorable when they carry their babies on their backs.
- Bears: From Majestic to Trash-Feeding Pests Bears, particularly in Yellowstone, were once a major problem when they began frequenting garbage dumps for food. This interaction with humans led to bears losing their natural fear of people, which resulted in dangerous encounters. Thankfully, improved waste management practices and park regulations have helped mitigate the problem, but bears continue to be drawn to human waste.
- Monkeys: Clever Thieves on the Loose Monkeys are smart and mischievous, which makes them dangerous when they interact with humans. In places like Indonesia, macaques have learned to steal food and belongings from tourists, even holding them for ransom. Their intelligence and social behavior make them effective thieves, and their willingness to snatch what they can from humans has made them notorious for their trashy habits.
- Rats: Unstoppable Urban Survivors New York City has spent millions trying to reduce its rat population, but these creatures are nearly impossible to eradicate. Rats are excellent survivors, adapting easily to urban life and thriving on the food we leave behind. While rats often get a bad rap, they are intelligent and capable of emotional responses—like laughing when tickled. Still, their reliance on garbage makes them an urban nuisance.
- Seagulls: The Trashy Birds of the Shore Seagulls have earned a reputation for being messy and obnoxious, often associated with loud screeches and a constant presence near trash. They frequently scavenge for food in garbage, sometimes consuming plastic and other harmful materials. While their eating habits aren't ideal for their health, it's the availability of human waste that has made these birds such persistent scavengers.
In the end, these animals wouldn't be so reliant on our trash if we didn't create such an abundance of waste. They’ve adapted to our habits, but it's time for us to take responsibility and do better to protect them—and our environment.