Travel can bring a load of surprises—some more welcome than others.
Trying a new food you love? That’s great. Being woken up by an unfamiliar animal breaking into your Airbnb? Not as fun.
Usually, these little surprises aren’t a big deal. While they might be scary or strange in the moment, they result in pretty good stories later on.
Sometimes, however, a travel surprise can leave the person who experienced it pretty shaken. TikTok user Rachel Anese (@rachelanese) isn’t quite sure what to feel after receiving a visit from a strange animal on a trip to Mexico.
What Is This Creature?
In a video with over 30,000 views, Anese shows herself at a table in a restaurant in Mexico. She’s clearly startled.
“This just happened to me right now, and I caught it on video,” she starts.
She then shows a small creature approaching her table. The animal has a long snout and a striped tail. While it is not threatening Anese, she says the sight of it was shocking.
“I’m a little scared right now,” she admits. “And, oh my God. I just screamed, and everyone in here looked at me.”
The animal sniffs around the area. After a few seconds, it hops up onto the table, takes Anese’s slice of cake in its mouth, and then runs away.
“No, no, no, no!” Anese says.
In an email, the TikToker said it was “normal” to see the creatures at meal time, and there were “thousands around my resort.”
The Coati And You
If you also go on a trip to Mexico, don’t be surprised if you see one of these creatures. It’s called a “coati” or “coatimundis,” and it can be found not only in Mexico, Central America, and South America, but parts of Arizona and New Mexico as well.
While it may be startling to come across a coati in the wild, it’s very likely that you’ll get bitten or attacked by one. There are reported bite incidents with coatis, but they’re relatively rare, and locals live alongside them similar to how many live alongside raccoons.
For example, there are reports that the animals were kept as pets by the ancient Maya people. In the modern era, one study out of Brazil surveyed people about their opinion of coatis. Almost 70% of respondents said they did not associate the presence of coatis with risk or problems, and over 80% admitted to offering food to them.
In short, you don’t need to be scared if you see a coati in the wild—or next to your dinner plate. That said, you should avoid interacting with them or feeding them directly, as food can lead to aggression.
Commenters Love It
In the comments section, users took a more positive stance on the coati than Anese.
“I’d be trying to bring him home with me!” exclaimed a user.
“You could’ve at least gave him a little scratch behind the ear,” offered another.
That said, a few shared in Anese’s concern.
“I’d be in the same boat as U GIRL,” declared a commenter. “Heading 4 the door.”