Nestled in the heart of central Washington, the serene sagebrush plains recently hosted an unexpected visitor far from its tropical origins. The kinkajou, a charming creature that seems like a blend of monkey and tiny bear, made a bewildering appearance at a highway rest stop, causing quite a stir among locals and wildlife officials alike.
Last Sunday, travelers on Interstate 82, southeast of Yakima, were taken aback by the sight of an unusual mammal scaling a tall wooden post. This intriguing spectacle was a kinkajou, a creature typically found in the dense rainforests stretching from southern Mexico to Brazil. The Washington State Department of Transportation shared this rare encounter on social media platform X, leaving many to wonder how such an animal ended up so far from its natural habitat.
Officials are puzzled about the kinkajou’s presence in this non-native region. “We don’t know if it was dropped off or escaped,” the Department of Transportation stated in their post. This peculiar situation prompted immediate action from the state Fish and Wildlife Department, which successfully rescued the bewildered mammal.
Kinkajous are carnivores that live in tropical rainforests from southern Mexico through Brazil, according to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, where this little creature was taken to live temporarily.
With sandy yellow fur, round ears and big dark eyes, they are capable of grasping objects and are often mistakenly called primates, the zoo said.
“Despite their cuteness, kinkajous do not make good pets,” the zoo said.
This particular kinkajou is being quarantined in the zoo’s hospital to ensure it’s not carrying any diseases and it will undergo a comprehensive wellness exam this week, officials said.. Kinkajous are not endangered but are hunted for their fur, and the illegal exotic pet trade-threatens their population, according to the zoo.