Raccoon Dog

The Raccoon Dog is a nocturnal animal which belongs to the canid family (which includes dogs, wolves, and foxes); Its only resemblance to the raccoon is its fur pattern. The Raccoon Dog originates from East Asia (Mongolia, China, Korea, Japan) but when it became popular as a furbearer it was introduced to the Soviet Union. It was overlooked that it is a shy but tough survivor, and, what is more, a rambler. From the areas it was relocated to it spread to North and Central Europe where it found suitable habitats everywhere: swampy or slightly forested landscapes, and river dells covered by broad-leaved trees.

The advance of the Raccoon Dog seems unstoppable. By now Germany has more than a hundred thousand of these immigrants, that in the foreseeable future will undoubtedly also settle in the Netherlands. With its menu of small rodents, birds and eggs it is a fierce competitor of domestic carnivores, particularly the European fox. A typical example of fauna falsification for which Foxy Loxy may end up paying the price.

A Raccoon Dog may be part of the same family as the dog but is does not behave like mans best friend. It will not walk on a leash or sit outside the supermarket waiting for you. It will not lay down on a nice dog bed in the living room, but will rather retire underneath the bed in the guest room, in the broom cupboard or the attic. It will only awake when all lights in the house are turned off the starting signal for activity.

Raccoon Dogs defecate at a specific place, but their place of choice more often than not is a fairly unpleasant one. For example, in the middle of the living room or the landing, because they like to do their business in open terrain. No cleaning product can mislead their sensitive noses, so they will always go back to their favourite place. There is only one advantage to a Raccoon Dog: it does not bark.