(Photo by National Mall and Memorial Parks)

First there was trash raccoon, transmitting to D.C. an important and profound message about the value of hanging on during tough times. Or something.

Now, we have trash raccoon’s markedly cheerier cousin, bus raccoon. Peeking over the seats of a D.C. Circulator bus, bus raccoon gives the impression that he is considerably less aware of world events, or at least considerably less weighed down by them. He looks curious, whimsical, ready to scamper off to do the very important raccoon things found on the Circulator National Mall Route.

It’s still unclear what message bus raccoon might be sending in his decision to take the Circulator bus, and then pose as adorably as possible for this photo. Bus raccoon is, perhaps, just not that interested in being a metaphor for the citizenry. Bus raccoon is living his life, as raccoon lives are meant to be lived.

The National Mall and Memorial Parks Facebook account has its own ideas about the messaging: