The raccoon dog also goes by the name magnut or tanuki. Despite their name and appearance, they are not related to raccoons at all, but are in the canid family which includes dogs, wolves, and foxes. Raccoon dogs can reach anywhere from 18-28 inches in length and weigh around 15 pounds.

The density and color of the raccoon dog’s coat will change with the seasons; for example, their fur will appear brown or grey during the winter and reddish during summer. The raccoon dog is the only species of wild dog that will hibernate during the winter. This is why their fur will get very thick and coarse in colder months, protecting them from temperatures up to -13°F. Regardless of the season, raccoon dogs will keep the dark stripe on their back and shoulders, and their yellow stomachs.

The raccoon dog is indigenous to East Asia, and ranges from europe, to Japan, east Russia, and northern India. They live in forests, farmlands, and urban areas and are often found near water. Also, their habitat consists of moist meadows, shores of rivers, lakes, and other broad-leaved evergreen and mixed forests.

Raccoon dogs are omnivorous and will suit their diet to the season and availability of food. Their curved claws and flexible front paws are good for holding onto slippery prey and climbing trees to forage for fruits or berries. Their diet consists of a long list of things such as frogs, birds, fish, small invertebrates, fruit, berries, seeds, and more. Unlike other canidae members, raccoon dogs have flat molars, small canine teeth, and longer intestines, which help them digest large quantities of vegetation.

Mating season for raccoon dogs is from February to April. Males will fight briefly for females as these mammals are monogamous. Once pregnant, females will carry their young for about two months. They give birth to usually a litter of six to seven puppies that weigh less than an ounce! The pups will become independent after about five months, meet in pairs, and leave their family groups.

Raccoon dogs live in small family groups or pairs. They produce a variety of sounds to communicate with their group such as yelps, growls, and long-drawn whines. Scientists have been able to identify that the raccoon dogs will growl and yelp when challenging other males for a female. In captivity, a new noise has been recorded sounding like mewing when hungry.