Tanuki Coffee Mug

The recent earthquake and nuclear powerplant disaster in Japan got me to thinking about the plight of some of the country’s little known wildlife. The racoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, is a small species of canine, native to parts of eastern Asia. Known as tanuki in Japan, this wild canine has markings that closely resemble those of a racoon and has also been known to display similar behaviours including the washing of food. Despite their similarities however, racoon dogs are not actually closely related to the raccoons found in North America. The racoon dog is now found across Japan and throughout Europe where it has been introduced and appears to be thriving. Historically however, the racoon dog’s natural range stretched through Japan and across eastern China where the racoon dog is now extinct in many parts. Racoon dogs are found inhabiting forests and woodland, that is close to water. Racoon dogs are unique canines as they are the only dog-like mammal that hibernates through the winter. Although racoon dog hibernation is not true hibernation, it means that racoon dogs are able to sleep through severe snowstorms when there is not enough food to allow them to survive. Racoon dogs usually become more active again in February when the warmer, spring weather begins to return. There are five different species of racoon dog found across eastern Asia and in parts of Europe, all of which have been severely affected by deforestation of their native woodlands. Racoon dogs are also known to have incredibly dexterous front paws which come in very handy when trying to catch slippery food in the water and when climbing trees. Racoon dogs are carnivorous animals meaning that they only hunt and eat other animals in order to survive. As racoon dogs spend a great deal of time close to water, their diet is primarily made up from frogs and fish along with rodents, small birds, eggs and invertebrates such as insects and spiders. The wolf is the main predator of the racoon dog as packs of wolves are known to kill large numbers of racoon dogs in the spring and summer months when they are also feeding their growing young. Foxes and wildcats are the other main predators of the racoon dog along with humans who have hunted them for their meat and thick fur. Racoon dog pups are usually born when the summer begins in late April to early May. After a gestation period of up to 12 weeks, the female racoon dog gives birth to a litter of between 5 and 16 racoon dog pups which are blind when they are first born. Both racoon dog parents help to raise their young until they are big enough to become independent and begin hunting for themselves. Today, although racoon dog populations are thriving in their introduced habitats in Europe, wild populations in the far east have been rapidly declining mainly due to over-hunting and habitat loss