this post was submitted on 12 May 2024
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It has always amused me that the tourists to the US that I’ve spoken to are often very excited to see raccoons, and disappointed if they don’t see them before they leave.

Some others I’ve noticed on the east coast of the US are blue jays and cardinals. Boy, do people get excited about those if they’ve never seen them before! Very pretty birds of course, just very easy to get used to and see as uninteresting as well.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 months ago

Not a tourist, but a girlfriend that grew up in Long Beach, and moved to the East Coast, stopped me dead on the street one day, and asked, "what in the world is THAT‽‽‽" I looked where she was looking and, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, said, "what is what?"

"The furry thing with the tail!"

"You mean the squirrel?"

"That's what they look like in real life‽‽‽"

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 months ago (1 children)

In the Pacific Northwest I’ve had visitors get really excited to see slugs.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 months ago

Black bears, mountains southeast USA

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Moose. We get European summer students and seeing one is the highlight of their animal watching when they're here, apparently.

Personally, I'm more impressed with elk, a bull elk with a full rack is pretty awesome.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago

It's wild to me that there are wild macaws in northern South America. Granted I haven't seen them in person, but even videos of them look so weird, like a hundred people let their pets out on accident.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Had some people visiting from Columbia. The squirrels absolutely blew their minds.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago

Guaras, or Guacamayas, I suppose. Think they're called Macaws in english. They're neat, pretty feathers and all. Shame they're hardly ever visible outside of a zoo, unless you're in the right spot at the right time and you're really paying attention.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Alligators. (I live in South Louisiana, which is a separate country for all intents and purposes.)

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago

Swans. It's a wonder to me that such an arrogant bird ever became the national pride of Denmark. But tourists freak out about them, thanks to H.C. Andersen.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (7 children)
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[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I had a relative visiting the US for the first time who was really excited to try turkey meat.

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[–] ICastFist 10 points 7 months ago

Most USians probably expect to see monkeys and capybaras crossing the streets here in Brazil. There's a good chance to see the latter near most freshwater bodies, even in the capital, though monkeys will vary a lot more from place to place.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago

In Rural America- "people of Walmart"

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago

In UK people come from all over the world to see our royal family of great apes.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Peacocks. Where I live (central California) there is a local park that has a flock of wild peacocks. I had a friend visiting from Korea and he was so excited to see them.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I live in the US but not where they’re common. I’d take note.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago

When I first moved, I was happy to just see some robins.

I still get a giggle when I see them pretending to be the Amazon delivery crew.  

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Monkeys in a very snowy forest. I remember feeding them nuts once.

They're called macaques.

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