Kinkajou Found Hiding From Texas Heat Behind Restaurant Trash Can

A kinkajou seeking relief from the Texas heat was found behind a trash can outside a Mod Pizza business in North Richland Hills, police said, after callers reported an unusual animal near the restaurant. The animal was initially described as possibly a monkey or a small kangaroo. Officers identified it as a kinkajou, an exotic species native to Central and South America. Kinkajous are sometimes called “honey bears” and can be mistaken for primates, although they are more closely related to raccoons. The animal had burns on its paws, apparently from the hot concrete, according to the report. It was taken to the North Richland Hills Animal Services Center before being transferred to Nature’s Edge Wildlife and Reptile Rescue. The kinkajou’s origins had not been determined at the time of the report. No information was provided about how it came to be outside the Texas business.