A new study suggests crows don’t just learn from past interactions—they anticipate future outcomes. In experiments, the birds selected tools without immediate rewards, indicating planning and complex decision-making. The findings challenge older ideas that intelligence depends mainly on brain size, and place crows’ problem-solving abilities alongside those of primates.
Urban raccoons are showing surprising problem-solving skills, learning how to open and use trash cans through trial and error. Research points to strong behavioral flexibility, with animals adapting their approach based on past outcomes. The findings suggest city life is shaping their cognition, helping them experiment with human-made systems to survive and thrive.
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