image credit: Lolamon, via Flickr
image credit: scienceblogs.com 
image credit: sleepyhead's, via FlickrHabitat: east Asia
So I've seen many a raccoon before. Once I even saw a whole gaggle of them just chillen eating some kibble that had been left out for some dogs. I really wish they had been Raccoon Dogs though instead of just boring old normal raccoons.
While these guys look a lot like raccoons, they are no where near related. Actually the closest relative to a Raccoon Dog is a fox! Who woulda thunk it.
Mr. Fluffums (as I would so name one if it ever happened to wander into my home; which will hopefully be any second now) hibernates during the winter making sure to get nice and fat off of lizards, ground birds, spiders, and frogs. Mmm.. delish.
If you liked this wild canid, why not check out the past posts on the Bush dog and Maned Wolf
While these guys look a lot like raccoons, they are no where near related. Actually the closest relative to a Raccoon Dog is a fox! Who woulda thunk it.
Mr. Fluffums (as I would so name one if it ever happened to wander into my home; which will hopefully be any second now) hibernates during the winter making sure to get nice and fat off of lizards, ground birds, spiders, and frogs. Mmm.. delish.
If you liked this wild canid, why not check out the past posts on the Bush dog and Maned Wolf
7 comments:
These cute little things are the Chinese's favorite fur trim. Lots of fur trimmed clothes sold in the US are made from these.
noOoOo!! WHY can't people just wear fake fur!?
How did they prove this is a dog and not a raccoon? Does it play fetch? Does it sniff your crotch to say hello?
I imagine that if a raccoon dog and a raccoon met, they'd have to fight to the death. There can be only one.
Justin that comment made me crack up just now lol!
And these cute little animals are often skinned alive in China! Don't wear fur, it's barbaric.
Actually, these dogs are called Tanuki and are indigenous to Japan as well. Tanuki's are associated with fertility and are often depicted with a little traveling sack hanging from their shoulders, as they are in fact nomades. What is so special about this "sack" is that it's actually the Tanuki's scrotum! Which is so large (hence the fertility reference), that they have to hang it from its shoulder... lol
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