home Thyroid What animal is similar to a raccoon? Raccoon family. In addition, the fertility of this species is very high. The raccoon dog spread very quickly throughout the European part and turned out to be a rather voracious predator.

What animal is similar to a raccoon? Raccoon family. In addition, the fertility of this species is very high. The raccoon dog spread very quickly throughout the European part and turned out to be a rather voracious predator.

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a predator, omnivorous mammal that belongs to the canine or canine family. Representatives of this genus are also known as the Ussuri raccoon fox, Ussuri raccoon or raccoon.

Description of the raccoon dog

Raccoons and raccoon dogs, despite the great similarity of names, are animals similar in appearance, having a number of very significant differences. Since ancient times, to this day, in some areas the original name of the raccoon dog has been well preserved - mangut or tanuki.

Appearance

The raccoon dog belongs to the category of medium-sized animals. The body size of such a predatory mammal rarely exceeds the size of a small dog. The average length of an adult is approximately 65-80 cm with a tail length of 15-25 cm and a total body weight of 4-10 kg. The predator has a very stocky body with fairly short legs. With its muzzle coloring and fur color, the raccoon dog very much resembles the color of the striped raccoon.

This is interesting! There are also individuals of the raccoon dog, characterized by a very original red fur color, as well as Ussuri albino raccoons with white fur.

Long and thick, but rough fur is characterized by a dark brown or grayish-brown color. The lower part of the animal’s body is lighter, and in the ridge area there is a characteristic dark stripe. The face of the predatory mammal is decorated with a clearly visible, dark-colored “raccoon mask,” and in the cheek area there are “whiskers” of ash-gray coloring. The tail is fluffy and short, without pronounced transverse stripes.

Lifestyle and character

The predatory mammal quite often chooses burrows left by foxes or badgers to equip its home. Raccoon dogs can use rocky crevices and depressions among the roots of dense tall bushes or trees as their habitat. By its nature, the Ussuri raccoon is very unpretentious, so it is quite capable of being content with open beds if necessary. In some years, the predator chooses to locate places near settlements or roads. The mammal belongs to the category of nocturnal predators, therefore it leaves its home only at dusk.

This is interesting! A predatory mammal rarely engages in open combat with an enemy, therefore, at the slightest sign of danger, the animal prefers to hide or pretend to be dead.

During the cold winter period, the Ussuri raccoon, unlike most of its fellow dogs belonging to the canine family, goes into a long but shallow hibernation, which is accompanied by a significant decrease in the activity of all natural processes occurring in the animal’s body. The predator remains in this state throughout the coldest winter months. In fairly warm winters, raccoon dogs, as a rule, remain awake and hide inside their homes only during heavy snow storms or on very frosty days.

The favorite habitats of the raccoon dog are wet meadow zones with well-boggy lowlands, as well as overgrown floodplain areas of rivers and forest zones in the coastal zone, characterized by fairly dense undergrowth. Despite its external resemblance to raccoons, the raccoon dog is very reminiscent of a fox in all its habits. By spring, the fur of the Ussuri raccoon becomes quite sparse and duller, due to which the predatory mammal acquires a slightly “sloppy” appearance.

Lifespan

In natural conditions, a wild animal, as a rule, lives no more than five years. In addition to natural enemies, epizootic piroplasmosis and rabies virus infection also cause mass mortality. When kept at home, raccoon dogs can live ten years, and sometimes more.

Range and habitats

The natural habitat of the raccoon dog or Ussuri raccoon is forest zones and mountain forest areas located in the northeastern part of Indochina, China, the Amur and Primorye regions, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. On the territory of our country, the mammalian predator was initially found only in the south of the Amur region and in Ussuriysk.

In the Asian regions of our country, the introduced Ussuri raccoons were not able to take root well, but in the European part the predator quickly multiplied and then spread throughout many countries of Western Europe. The climate is good for raccoon dogs in countries such as Finland, Estonia and Sweden, Poland and Romania, the Czech Republic, as well as Germany, France and Latvia.

Natural enemies

Among the natural enemies of the Ussuri raccoon, the largest role is played by wolves, which actively exterminate even adult mammals, mainly in spring and summer. In some years, wolf attacks on raccoon dogs are also observed with the onset of late autumn.

Raccoon dog puppies can be destroyed by stray dogs, lynx and adult foxes. In addition to natural enemies, a sharp reduction in numbers and mass mortality are most often caused by epizootics of piroplasmosis.

What does a raccoon dog eat?

Raccoon dogs are omnivorous mammalian predators with underdeveloped canines, molars with a flattened surface, and a relatively long intestinal tract. The diversity of the food diet is very large, but any areas suitable for habitat of the Ussuri raccoon are characterized by the predominant consumption of mouse-like rodents for food purposes. Seasonal foods can include a variety of insects, amphibians, as well as birds and plant foods.

The most common mouse-like rodents that the raccoon dog feeds on include the eastern and water voles, as well as the root and common voles. Very often, gerbils become the main food source for predators. Insects such as dung beetles, beetles or diving beetles and water lovers, ground beetles and locusts are also very actively used in the diet of the raccoon dog. Frogs are more often than other amphibian species eaten by the Ussuri raccoon in the summer.

Important! Large fish and invertebrate animals are collected by raccoon dogs on the shoreline or caught from a natural body of water that dries up in summer.

The plant diet of the Ussuri raccoon is also very diverse. Vegetative parts of vegetation, bulbs and rhizomes, as well as seeds can be used for food purposes. The predatory mammal often feeds on oats, millet and corn, nuts, fruits and berries, melons and watermelons, as well as many garden crops.

A fairly clear seasonality in the change of food items of the raccoon dog is determined by different levels of their availability. In autumn and winter, the animal often feeds on mouse-like rodents and carrion, and in spring and summer, amphibians and reptiles, insects and a variety of vegetation can be used as food.

Reproduction and offspring

The rutting season varies depending on weather conditions in the region where the predator is distributed, but most often begins in February and lasts until the last ten days of April. When cold weather and snowfall return, the rut may be interrupted or delayed by several weeks. The raccoon dog belongs to the category of monogamous predators, and pair formation occurs in mid-autumn, around October or early November.

This is interesting! As domestication practice shows, when breeding Ussuri raccoons in captivity, polygamy is quite possible, so most often there are about four females for one male.

The mating process most often occurs at night or early in the morning, and takes from two minutes to half an hour. A female's estrus can last several hours or several days, but no more than a week. After three weeks, even a fertilized female will necessarily go into estrus again, and the gestation period is a couple of months. Cubs are born in April or May. As a rule, seven babies are born in one litter, but their number can even reach fifteen individuals.

The cubs are born blind, and their body is covered with short, thick and soft fur, which has no guard hairs at all, and is dark slate or almost black in color. The average weight of a newborn is 60-110 g, but males are always born slightly larger than females. The eyes open after ten days, and after a couple of weeks the babies' first teeth erupt. The lactation period lasts a couple of months, but from about a month of age, puppies begin to eat frogs and various insects that their parents bring. Male raccoon dogs take an active part in raising and raising young animals. Puppies reach sexual maturity at the age of ten months.

The raccoon dog (Ussuri fox) is an animal that really looks like a raccoon. However, it is still not a raccoon. The main similarity with representatives of the raccoon genus is ensured by the dark glasses on the muzzle. Raccoon dog: photo and description in a detailed review below.

This species, in accordance with biological taxonomy, belongs to the canine family.

If you look closely at the appearance of this animal, mentally removing the glasses and sideburns, you will see a fox. A narrow muzzle, thin paws, a penetrating look of an intelligent animal. And the paw prints are very similar to those of a dog, only with a greater spread of toes in width.

A raccoon dog is not so much a raccoon with canine characteristics as a fox masquerading as a raccoon.

The raccoon-like face is a convergent similarity associated with two adaptive properties. Glasses and sideburns “smear” the animal’s face against the backdrop of forest thickets.

Predators and people cannot immediately see the animal’s face among the bushes. They see something blurry. Besides, signature sideburns serve as a scent collector.

Description of the exterior, living conditions, habitat

This type of canine has the size of a small dog:

the body reaches a length of 70-80 cm;
fluffy tail length - 20 cm;
weight ranges from 5 to 8 kg.

The body, although long, appears stocky due to the short legs.

The muzzle of a fluffy dog deserves a separate description: black “glasses” surround black and slightly slanted fox-like eyes.

Tail short, more dog than fox, but very fluffy and without the transverse stripes that raccoons have. This is their difference.

Paws are short with widely spaced toes. Raccoon dog and raccoon: the difference is that dogs are not able to make grasping movements like raccoons do.

Where does the raccoon dog live in Russia? Initially, these animals lived only in the Russian Far East, China, Japan, Korea.

Yours historical name of the Ussuri raccoon dog this animal received due to the fact that in Russia individuals of this species lived only in the valley of the Ussuri River and in the southern Amur region.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a fever for the “ennoblement” of nature began. Species moved to other continents and even to natural conditions alien to them. A similar fate befell the raccoon dog. In Russia, she was resettled to the European part. Here it not only successfully took root, but also began to rapidly spread throughout Western Europe.

The success of such resettlement was due to the fact that The raccoon dog occupies the ecological niche of the fox and, partially, the wolf. Since in Europe at the time the raccoon dog appeared there, wolves and bears were almost exterminated, the new animal did not find its natural enemies here.

Character, lifestyle, abilities and skills

This is a very unpretentious animal. For a normal life in nature it needs dense forests with undergrowth, grass and shrub thickets.

In choosing shelters, he combines ingenuity, cunning and undemandingness in comfort. Prefers to occupy other people's holes abandoned by badgers or foxes. It can also use natural depressions among rocks and under roots.

The dog is active at night or at dusk.

In search of food, it can travel long distances - up to 10 km per day. However, in winter there are big problems with moving in deep snow. For this reason for the winter she goes into hibernation.

This animal has a secretive character. Prefers to avoid danger. However, if the escape route is cut off, it shows aggression and miracles of heroism in the battle for its life and for the safety of its cubs.

Raccoon dogs form pairs in early autumn. The breeding season begins in early spring. During one litter, 5-6 puppies are born. Each puppy weighs no more than 100 g.

By the age of 5 months, puppies become adults and independent. After another five months they are able to start their own family.

Thus, the life cycle of raccoon dogs is very similar to the natural rhythms of life of domestic dogs, such as, or.

Conditions and care

To make the animal feel good, it needs to be walked just like a domestic dog. Having an enclosure on the balcony does not eliminate the need to provide the animal with physical exercise and an emotionally rich life.

An apartment where a raccoon dog lives very quickly acquires a bouquet of aromas that are not typical for a human home. The animal itself has almost no smell, but its excrement smells very pungent and unpleasant.

Besides, they love to mark their homes, which can turn a person’s home into a raccoon den.

The only way to avoid marks is early castration.

Caring for this animal is in many ways similar to caring for a domestic dog. The only exception is the impossibility of walking with such a dog in crowded places.

If there is a fenced area, she can be let out for a walk with the dogs. The raccoon is usually good friends with them if there is no aggression on their part. Friendship is possible even with cats. But birds and rodents can be considered food by it.

Enclosures for raccoon pets are made approximately the same as for small breeds of domestic dogs. In conditions of satiety and well-being, the animal does not hibernate, but pleases its owners with an active life.

What does a raccoon dog eat? Her diet consists of:

As befits representatives of the canine family, these dogs do not disdain carrion and food waste.

There are no problems with feeding for such pets. They can be fed like dogs. , and it’s best to cook porridge with meat and fish for them. Raw meat and raw sea fish should be given periodically. All vitamin and mineral supplements for dogs are quite suitable for their raccoon counterparts.

A raccoon dog lives up to 15 years at home, and no more than 5 years in the wild.

To start or not?

If it is possible to keep an animal in an enclosure in the yard, then you will get a lot of pleasure from communicating with a bespectacled dog that looks like a fox. In the absence of such opportunities, it is better to give up the desire to live next to a wild forest animal.

The raccoon dog is an interesting, intelligent and beautiful animal. It is a great happiness to make friends with such an animal, however, we should not forget that we are responsible for those we have tamed. Just loving a bespectacled animal is not enough; you need to create conditions for it under which it does not feel like a prisoner.

Additionally, watch a short video about the behavior of a raccoon dog in natural conditions:

The natural habitat in Russia is the Ussuri region and the Amur region; the fluffy animal was brought to other territories in the 50s in order to populate the territories with commercial fur-bearing animals.

The mountains and forests of Indochina, Japan, China and the Korean Peninsula are rightfully considered the homeland of the raccoon dog. But since this animal is endowed with amazing unpretentiousness and the ability to adapt to different conditions, it is no wonder that it quickly spread in our territories and, moreover, began to pose a threat to many other species - pheasants, wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse, small animals and frogs.

In addition, the fertility of this species is very high. The raccoon dog spread very quickly throughout the European part and turned out to be a rather voracious predator.

In terms of its dimensions, this animal is small, the size of a small fox. The body length is 65-80 cm, the tail is 15-25 cm, and the weight is 4-10 kg. The physique is dense, stocky. The legs are short, the head is small, the muzzle is pointed with short ears.

Outwardly, this fluffy creature certainly resembles the well-known raccoon; it is even sometimes called the “Ussuri raccoon”! However, the difference between a raccoon and a raccoon dog is obvious! There aren't even any family ties between them! It's easier to say what unites them.

It is thick, long and fluffy dark brown fur. But there are differences here too: the raccoon dog’s fur is much tougher and coarser. Both of them have black wide whiskers and, again, black spots around the eyes. But the raccoon dog cannot boast of transverse stripes on its tail!

Carrion can even dig out of the ground, easily feast on dead fish and snack on oats! The raccoon prefers to eat various crabs, snails, frogs, fish, small mammals, as well as all kinds of fruits and vegetables.

A raccoon and a raccoon dog, the difference between which lies not only in external differences, even prefer to live in different conditions! The raccoon dog chooses the banks of rivers and other bodies of water, loves wet meadows with swampy areas, as well as coastal forests with dense undergrowth.

While the striper prefers to settle in holes, hollows of old trees, rock crevices, usually at a height of 20-30 meters above the ground. In a word, the raccoon dog, due to its greater clumsiness, chooses lower places as a home - burrows of foxes or badgers, niches in ravines, tree roots or self-dug shelters (up to 3 meters deep with 1-2 exits) on the slopes of ditches and the banks of reservoirs, on the slopes of ravines.

Such a dog is not afraid of the proximity of human habitation: it easily lives next to roads and villages.

Raccoon dog (Ussuri raccoon dog)

As already mentioned, this is an omnivorous predator that will never miss any opportunity to feed on prey that it can handle. He goes hunting at dusk or late at night. He thoroughly examines the area, getting to the most secluded corners.

The raccoon dog and the raccoon (whose differences also extend to the manner of searching for food) are real cunning and tricksters, but the former are capable of combing vast territories on land, shallow water and the sea coast, while stripers do not stray far from home.

On a note

The raccoon dog successfully hunts various small rodents, amphibians, reptiles, insects, birds and fish. Will not disdain edible waste or carrion. It will also happily eat plant foods - stems, leaves, bulbs, seeds, fruits or rhizomes of plants.

In the spring (April-May), pairs of raccoon dogs give birth to cubs. Females of this species remain pregnant for 60 days. There are usually 6-7 animals in a litter, but if there was plenty of food, then 14-16 babies are not uncommon.

Another obvious difference that cannot be ignored is the incredible mobility of raccoon fingers and their habit of “rinsing” food before eating, unlike raccoon dogs.

Raccoon

Unlike a raccoon, this animal travels about 7-10 km per night in search of food!

The striped raccoon and the raccoon dog can swim, but only the latter can risk going on a “long voyage” for the sake of catching fish. These are stronger and more resilient quicksand.

In winter, due to deep snow cover, raccoon dogs do not go on long journeys, as their short legs easily get stuck in the snow. Over the summer, they accumulate subcutaneous fat in order to quietly spend the winter in hibernation. During the warm season, their weight increases by 2 kilograms or more.

It is worth noting that this is the only representative of the canids that hibernates for the winter. Their sleep is not deep and is interrupted. They spend time in their homes on days of severe cold and snowstorms, but on warm days they are fully awake and look for food close to home.

Raccoon dog puppies

During the cold season, the metabolic rate of raccoon dogs drops by 25%. They live in their homes in pairs, formed in the fall (October-November). For this reason, the February-April rut is almost never accompanied by clashes among males. Since by this time everyone has already decided on a pair, there is no one to divide.

Raccoons either live alone or gather in packs of 20 individuals. Then they share one lodging for the night.

Raccoon dog

Actually, after such a comparison, it becomes completely clear that a raccoon and a raccoon dog are completely different animals.

The raccoon family (Procyonidae) consists of only 7 genera and 18 species, all of which exhibit amazing diversity in both appearance and lifestyle.

Most raccoons live in tropical and subtropical regions of America. The red panda is found in Asia. Of the entire family, only the raccoon is acclimatized in Europe.

Appearance Features

Raccoons are medium-sized mammals with an elongated flexible body, the average length of which ranges from 30 to 70 cm and weight 4-7 kg. All members of the family have long, striped tails (only the kinkajou has a tail without stripes) and markings on the face (from a black mask in raccoons to white spots in noses and kakimitsli). The color of the animals' fur varies from gray to bright red or brown.

Raccoons usually have elongated muzzles, with the exception of the kinkajou, whose muzzle is shortened, but has a very long tongue, with the help of which the animal extracts nectar from flowers.

Raccoons have 5 toes on each paw, with the third toe being the longest. These animals are plantigrade - they move by stepping on their entire foot. Their claws are non-retractable, except for the red panda and kakimitsli, whose front paws are equipped with semi-retractable claws.

Lifestyle

All raccoons, except for noses, are nocturnal. Some members of the family are solitary animals, others, for example, the same noses, live in large groups. However, what is common is that all species are characterized by complex relationships within the group and between the sexes.

Diet

Raccoons are classified as carnivores, but they are not specialized predators. A variety of fruits is the basis of the diet of most of these animals. However, there are species that prey on insects and small mammals.

In addition to fruits, berries and nuts, raccoons eat worms, shellfish, fish, crabs, and crayfish. Kinkajou practically does not eat animal food, only occasionally diversifying its floral diet with insects. The red panda also tries to adhere to a vegetarian diet, preferring young bamboo shoots, plant rhizomes, fruits, acorns and lichens.

Of the entire family, the most predatory are the kakimitsli. Armed with dog-like teeth, they can hunt a variety of animals (no larger than a hare).

Continuation of the family line

Females usually begin breeding in the first spring of their lives, while males only in the second year. The cubs are born immature, their weight barely reaches 50 g. Most species have 3-4 cubs in the litter. Only the red panda and the kinkajou usually give birth to one single baby. Offspring are born in dens or nests. Mothers take care of their babies alone until they become independent.

Representatives of the raccoon family

Subfamily Procyoninae

This subfamily includes 7 species of raccoons proper (genus Procyon), 3 species of raccoons in 2 genera (Nasua and Nasuella) and 2 species of cocomicil (genus Bassariscus). Let's get to know them better.

Raccoons

Raccoons have learned not only to survive, but also to thrive near humans. In their homeland in North America, these cute little animals plunder garbage cans, raid homesteads, and even sneak in and out of houses at will. Most townspeople chase away uninvited guests not only because they want to avoid noise and disorder, but also because they are afraid that raccoons will infect their pets with rabies.

Some people take young animals into their homes as pets, but as they age, the behavior of raccoons changes dramatically under the influence of hormones, so even the most persistent owners often prefer to part with them.

The raccoon has a dense build, the weight of adults is 5-8 kg. The animal is easily recognized by its sharp muzzle, similar to a fox, a black mask passing through the eyes, and a long striped tail.

Raccoons are excellent tree climbers. They use hollow trees, nests in bushes, old buildings, attics, haystacks, stacks of firewood, etc. as shelters.

Raccoons are most active from sunset to midnight. They feed near rivers, lakes and swamps, where they look for mollusks, crayfish, fish, aquatic insects and other prey.

In the northern part of the USA and southern Canada, in winter the animals become lethargic, although they do not fall into real hibernation. They can remain in the shelter for a month or more until the night temperature rises above 0°C.

Raccoon

The most famous representative of the raccoon family. It is common in the USA and southern Canada, and introduced into some countries in Europe and Asia. Occupies a wide variety of habitats.

The color of the coat is grayish-gray, sometimes lighter or reddish; the tail is striped with alternating black and brown stripes. The black mask on the face is emphasized by gray stripes above and below. You can learn more about the striped raccoon from the article.

Crabeater raccoon

Found from Costa Rica south to northern Argentina.

The fur is shorter, coarser, has a yellowish-reddish tint, and the tail is longer than that of the striped raccoon.

Cozumel raccoon

Found in Mexico, on the island of Cozumel, in Yucatan.

The smallest of all raccoons (weighs no more than 3-4 kg). Differs in less dense wool. The species is threatened with extinction.

Guadalupe raccoon

Inhabits the island of Guadeloupe. It has a less bright coat color.

Bahamian raccoon

Lives on the Nassau Islands, Bahamas.

Tresmarias raccoon

Found on the island of Maria Madre, Mexico. Its fur is shorter, coarser and lighter in color than that of its cousin, the striped raccoon. This species is threatened with extinction.

Barbados raccoon

Inhabited in Barbados. It differed from its brothers in having darker fur. Currently extinct.

Nosukhi

Noses are found in a variety of biotypes, including tropical lowlands, arid highland forests, oak forests, forest edges, and prairies.

The muzzle of the nose is long and mobile, its tip extends far beyond the lower jaw. Many muscles give the nose special flexibility, which allows the animal to examine various recesses for prey.

Nosukhi lead a diurnal lifestyle. Almost all the time they are busy combing the forest floor in search of food, stirring up leaves and hastily looking for insects or fruits. Their long nose and strong claws help them find food.

Common nose

This species is common in the forests of South America, in the eastern Andes, Argentina and Uruguay.

The coat is reddish-brown, with small light spots above and below the eyes, and a larger white spot on the cheeks and throat; the belly is white, the legs are darker than the main color, the tail is decorated with dark rings.

The long, movable snout is ideal for searching for insects in bark cracks.

Koata

It lives in Central America, Mexico, southeastern Arizona and Western Colombia.

The coat is gray or brown, with a white band at the end of the muzzle. Otherwise it looks like an ordinary nose.

Mountain nose

Lives in mountain forests of Ecuador and Colombia.

The coat color is olive brown, the muzzle, legs and tail rings are black.

Kakomitsli

The North American camomitsli is common in the western United States. Inhabits arid areas, especially rocky areas.

The coat is gray or brown, with white spots above and below the eyes and on the cheeks.

Despite the fact that this is the smallest representative of raccoons, it is also the most predatory. The kakimitsli hunts rodents, birds and insects. However, he doesn’t refuse fruit either.

The Central American camomitsli lives in the arid forests of Central America. Similar to its North American counterpart, but with a longer body and tail.

In former times, kakimitsli often lived in prospector camps in the Wild West, where he caught mice, which is why he has the second name “little cat.”

Both species have long legs, flexible bodies, and long, bushy, striped tails. Their faces are similar to those of a fox, and their ears are larger than those of all other raccoons.

Kakomitsli spend all their time in the trees, almost never descending to the ground.

Subfamily Potosinae

Another group is formed by kinkajou and olingo.

Kinkajou

Distributed in tropical forests of Central and South America.

The coat is short, brown with a reddish tint.

Like kakimitsli, these are exclusively arboreal animals, and prefer to stay high in the crowns of trees. A tenacious tail helps them move relatively quickly through trees.

The animals usually live alone. They feed at night, and their diet consists almost exclusively of fruits. You can read about the life of kinkajou in nature.

Olingo

There are 5 species of olingo (genus Bassaricyon). They live in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America at an altitude of 1800 meters.

The coat is gray-brown in color, the tips of the hair have a yellowish tint. The underside of the body and the inside of the paws are yellowish; a yellow band runs along the neck to the back of the ears. The tail has 11 to 13 black rings.

Both in appearance and in their lifestyle, all types of olingo are similar to kinkajou. Only upon closer inspection can you see serious differences: Olingos have longer snouts and non-prehensile tails. In addition, they have more pronounced predatory tendencies: they eat large insects, small mammals and birds.

The animals are active only at night, so it is extremely rare to see them. Population density is quite low. In one area, the size of which can reach 38 hectares, usually only one individual lives.

Subfamily Ailurinae

Little panda

The small (or red) panda stands apart. Previously, it was combined either with the bear family, or together with the giant panda, it was classified as a member of the panda family.

Currently, pandas are classified into a separate family, Ailuridae.

The red panda lives in Southern China, in the Himalayas. Inhabits secluded highland bamboo forests. The animal's fur is soft, thick, brown on its back, its paws and lower body are darker. There are white markings of various shapes on the face and ears. The animal's coat consists of long hair and a very thick undercoat, which allows the panda to stay dry and keep warm in cool and humid climates. The soles of the paws are covered with thick white fur.

The main food of the red panda is bamboo leaves and shoots. It can be active at any time of the day, although it is considered primarily a nocturnal animal. The area of habitat of one individual varies from 1.5 to 11 sq. km, while the areas of males are much larger than those of females.

Its limited range makes the red panda particularly sensitive to the loss of mountain forest ecosystems. The species is currently threatened with extinction.

Conservation of raccoons in nature

Some raccoons have high numbers, others (olingo, kakimitsli, red panda) are rare or vulnerable species: due to the destruction of the forests where they live, these animals are becoming less and less numerous.

While the raccoon's numbers are constantly growing and its range is expanding, the island species is listed as endangered by the IUCN.

The common nose is not in danger of extinction at this time; it is considered a common species. However, the mountain nosoha suffers from the destruction of forests and human use of land, which has become a rare species today.

In nature, raccoons rarely live up to 7 years, but in captivity their lifespan can be 10-15 years.

In contact with

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a carnivorous mammal, one of the most unusual members of the canid family, so named for its clear resemblance to a raccoon.

On the territory of Russia, these predators were first discovered in the Amur region and the Ussuri region, due to which they are often called the Ussuri dog, Ussuri fox, Ussuri raccoon or simply raccoon.

From a biological point of view, this animal is similar to both a dog and a raccoon. The animal's body is elongated and squat, like a small mongrel, its size is 65 - 80 cm, and its weight reaches 4 - 10 kg. The limbs of the animal are thin and short, and the tail is very fluffy and grows in length up to 15 - 25 cm.

These animals are similar to a raccoon in the structure of the skull and the characteristic dark “raccoon” mask on the pointed muzzle. The general coat color is dark brown on the back and lighter on the belly, although there are red specimens and albino raccoons. A stripe of dark fur runs along the back, and the cheeks are decorated with thick gray whiskers. The fur of a raccoon dog is dense and long, but too hard, so these animals are not of particular commercial value.

Habitat and behavioral characteristics

Raccoon dogs are typical inhabitants of Southeast Asia: China, Korea, Japan and the northeastern regions of the Indochina Peninsula. On the territory of Russia, these animals were initially found only in the southern regions of the Far East, but in the middle of the last century they were brought to 76 regions of the former USSR.

Photo: raccoon dog near the barrel booth.

Raccoon dog in a house.

These animals never adapted to life in Asian regions, but they successfully took root on European territory and rapidly spread to the Baltic countries and many regions of Western Europe. For example, in Sweden the population has grown so large that the country's authorities were forced to develop a program to control the number of these animals.

The usual biotopes of raccoon dogs are low-lying, swampy landscapes - meadows, forests and undergrowth in close proximity to water. The dwellings of animals are shallow gorges, fox and badger holes, shelters under tree roots; sometimes these unpretentious animals rest right in the open air, and very rarely dig holes on their own.

Being predators, raccoon dogs, however, do not know how to defend themselves at all. An animal driven into a corner squeals and does not fight back, so even a small stray dog can cope with it.

Unlike other canids, raccoon dogs sometimes hibernate from December to early spring. Although it is difficult to call this state real hibernation: the animals simply have a significantly reduced metabolism, which is why it is so important for them to accumulate a good supply of subcutaneous fat over the summer.

What do raccoon dogs eat?

These animals lead a twilight lifestyle, and being predators, they are not at all aggressive, and prefer gathering a wide variety of food to hunting. In summer, raccoon dogs travel up to 10 km per night in search of food, but in winter they get stuck in deep snow, which is why their body is so well adapted to subsisting on subcutaneous reserves.

Raccoon dogs are omnivores, and willingly eat any food they can find: dead fish, carrion and food waste. In warm weather, they catch small rodents, destroy bird nests, and will not refuse frogs and insects. In autumn, fallen fruits, sweet berries and ripe grains of cereals are added to the diet. To survive the cold and prepare for the reproduction of offspring, each individual, especially females, must gain at least 2 kg over the summer.

Reproduction

Raccoon dogs are monogamous, and new pairs are formed at the end of autumn, therefore, with the onset of warm weather, the mating season is rarely accompanied by the fight of males for a female. Pregnancy lasts about 70 days, and the number of puppies depends on the fatness of the mother and can range from 6 - 8 to 14 - 16 cubs. Both parents carry food for the puppies; by the end of the year, young raccoon dogs develop to the size of adults, and at 8 - 10 months they are ready to breed.

In natural conditions, raccoon dogs are hunted by lynxes, wolves and stray dogs; the population size often decreases due to epidemics of piroplasmosis. The life cycle of these animals is from 3 to 4 years and today the state of their population is of the least concern. In captivity, with proper care, raccoon dogs can live up to 11 years.