No natural predators for the lamprey have been found. Sea lamprey control has been the single most expensive conservation project in history. There are, however, opportunistic plant and animal species that actually benefit from the presence of modern human civilization. They are able to take advantage of changes humans have made to the environment, sometimes becoming so numerous that they become a nuisance. The raccoon is a well-known example of opportunistic urban wildlife.
Raccoons usually live in wooded areas and build their dens in hollow trees.
Active mainly at night, they are notorious for rooting through garbage as they forage for food. In some instances, the specimens in the new exhibits speak with silent eloquence, such as the poignant image of the extinct deepwater cisco floating in a jar of preserving alcohol. Were it not for over-harvesting by commercial fisheries and the onslaught of the sea lamprey, this species would still be sharing the planet with us. The exhibits demonstrate how the natural world serves as our life support system, providing countless medical, agricultural and commercial benefits. Every time a species becomes extinct, an irreplaceable resource is lost.