The title of this post was something a friend said when I showed him the photos of a recent trip to Costa Rica.... and he´s probably right!

^{Me? a bandit? No way!! Racoon /Guaxinim (PT) - Procyon lotor}

Racoons are nocturnal mammals belonging to Procyonidae family, and they are one of the common mammals species of Costa Rica. Males are generaly larger than females, and can reach almost 16kg. They are very easy to identify, with their ringed tail, grey fur, and the distinctive "mask" of black fur surrounding the eyes.

Although mostly nocturnal, it's not uncommon to see them in daytime. Racoons are considered extremely intelligent, and in urban areas it's not uncommon to see them scavenging for food on garbage bins. There are several explanations for the diurnal activity, one of them being food availability. And at least in Manuel António natural park, that reason is very very likely...

These masked cuties are omnivorous, meaning they'll eat just about anything (including your lunchpack!), and besidse all the opposite recomendations, some unconscious tourists still bring food with them. So, join a very intelligent mammal, a delicious smell coming from your backpack (you probably don't smell it that well, but they do), and you have...

Bag-raiding time!! Oh well... as the title says: they are born with a mask, what were you expecting? :)