Human food waste is not only having an affect on us, but is also affecting animals like raccoons according to a new study led by Laurentian University.

The study which was led by Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde compared three groups of raccoons, those with high access to human food, living near the Toronto Zoo, those in a conservation area and raccoons in a farming area.

The results showed urban raccoons are not only putting on excessive weight but are experiencing higher blood sugar levels.

Schulte-Hostedde says it’s possible the animals could have adapted to the new diets.

Schulte-Hostedde is the professor in evolutionary ecology at Laurentian University and collaborated with Dr. Jeffrey Gagnon, professor in obesity and metabolic disease research.

The project was also conducted as part of Laurentian University’s department of Biology undergraduate thesis course with fourth-year student Zvia Mazal.

Dr. Clair Jardine, a veterinarian and associate professor from the University of Guelph also contributed to the study.

The next steps will be to study if this is having an impact from an evolutionary perspective or if they are adapting.