Raccoon dog is a foxlike animal that resembles a raccoon . It has a plump body with short, dark legs. Its thick coat is grizzled brownish-gray. Dark facial spots around the eyes give the animal a masked appearance similar to that of a raccoon. The raccoon dog is sometimes called the Asiatic raccoon. In Japan, the animal is called tanuki.
Raccoon dogs are found in Japan and in East Asia from northern Vietnam to southeastern Russia. In the 1900’s, raccoon dogs were introduced to western Russia and they later spread to eastern and northern Europe. They mainly live in moist forests and meadows. They also inhabit regions of dense vegetation along lakes and rivers. They may also live in some urban areas. Raccoon dogs seek shelter in hollow logs, rock crevices, and thick vegetation.
Raccoon dogs eat a variety of foods, including birds, bird eggs, fruits, insects, nuts, small reptiles and amphibians, small rodents, and carrion (dead animals). Raccoon dogs do not hibernate, but in cold regions, they may enter a period of winter sleep. In this state, raccoon dogs do not eat or drink and only awaken when disturbed. Raccoon dogs are the only members of the dog family that exhibit this behavior.
Each year, female raccoon dogs give birth to a large litter of pups. The average litter size is 9, but some litters may be as large as 19. Pups are born after about 60 days gestation.
A raccoon dog may grow from 20 to 28 inches (50 to 70 centimeters) long with a tail about 7 inches (18 centimeters) in length. Raccoon dogs usually weigh about 11 pounds (5 kilograms) in summer. In colder regions, they gain weight before the period of winter sleep and reach up to 18 pounds (8 kilograms).
Larger predators, including lynxes and wolves prey on raccoon dogs. Raccoon dogs are also prone to diseases that affect other members of the dog family, particularly rabies , distemper , and mange (a contagious skin disease). They are hunted by humans for food and trapped for their fur. Raccoon dogs are also bred and raised in captivity for the fur industry in East Asia and particularly in China. Raccoon dogs may live about seven to eight years in the wild.
