Malcolm Gladwell

What sets a Thomas's English muffin apart from all the others? It says right there on the package, nooks and crannies. The recipe for Thomas' English muffin has been one of the most closely held trade secrets there is. Until, allegedly, one baking executive tried to make off with the family's jewels. I'm Malcolm Gladwell.

What sets a Thomas's English muffin apart from all the others? It says right there on the package, nooks and crannies. The recipe for Thomas' English muffin has been one of the most closely held trade secrets there is. Until, allegedly, one baking executive tried to make off with the family's jewels. I'm Malcolm Gladwell.

You're listening to Revisionist History, my show about things overlooked and misunderstood. Today on the show, Ben-Nedaf Hafri peers into the nooks and crannies of one of the greatest legal cases you've never heard of. It's a big story, this muffin case. Today, you're getting part one.

You're listening to Revisionist History, my show about things overlooked and misunderstood. Today on the show, Ben-Nedaf Hafri peers into the nooks and crannies of one of the greatest legal cases you've never heard of. It's a big story, this muffin case. Today, you're getting part one.

How did you get into writing about raccoons?

How did you get into writing about raccoons?

I'm talking with intrepid investigative reporter for the Toronto Star, Amy Dempsey-Raven. Typically, she covers police wrongdoing, child welfare, controversial homicides. But in 2016, when Toronto declared a war on raccoons and unveiled a new raccoon-resistant composting bin, she realized it's time to get serious.

I'm talking with intrepid investigative reporter for the Toronto Star, Amy Dempsey-Raven. Typically, she covers police wrongdoing, child welfare, controversial homicides. But in 2016, when Toronto declared a war on raccoons and unveiled a new raccoon-resistant composting bin, she realized it's time to get serious.

This raccoon-resistant bin cost the city 31 million Canadian dollars. But Toronto is known as the raccoon capital of the world. Theoretically, it's a point of pride, but it's a little more complicated than that. If a race of Martians took over your city, would you call it the Martian capital of the world? Only if you'd already admitted defeat.

This raccoon-resistant bin cost the city 31 million Canadian dollars. But Toronto is known as the raccoon capital of the world. Theoretically, it's a point of pride, but it's a little more complicated than that. If a race of Martians took over your city, would you call it the Martian capital of the world? Only if you'd already admitted defeat.

That was about 40 years ago. Things have gotten much, much worse.

That was about 40 years ago. Things have gotten much, much worse.

Raccoons in the garbage. Raccoons on the train. Raccoons on the back deck.

Raccoons in the garbage. Raccoons on the train. Raccoons on the back deck.

Raccoons have taken over the attics in a whole street of houses and refused to leave. They brought traffic to a screeching halt on Toronto's highways and just stood there. They figured out how to open doors to houses and refrigerators and stood on top of countertops, leftovers in their paws, staring at freaked out homeowners as if to say, if I wanted you here, I would have rung the bell.

Raccoons have taken over the attics in a whole street of houses and refused to leave. They brought traffic to a screeching halt on Toronto's highways and just stood there. They figured out how to open doors to houses and refrigerators and stood on top of countertops, leftovers in their paws, staring at freaked out homeowners as if to say, if I wanted you here, I would have rung the bell.

Hence the pricey raccoon-resistant bins, which surely no raccoon would be able to open.

Hence the pricey raccoon-resistant bins, which surely no raccoon would be able to open.

Amy found herself wondering, how are raccoons smart enough to open that bin? This was the question a historian of science had found himself wondering one night when he looked at his back deck in Toronto and saw compost all over the place. He had an earlier version of the compost bin, but here too, the raccoons had picked the lock. Are they really just that smart? It turned out nobody really knew.

Amy found herself wondering, how are raccoons smart enough to open that bin? This was the question a historian of science had found himself wondering one night when he looked at his back deck in Toronto and saw compost all over the place. He had an earlier version of the compost bin, but here too, the raccoons had picked the lock. Are they really just that smart? It turned out nobody really knew.