What do you know about raccoon dog
The raccoon dog is a mammal belonging to the family Canidae and is generally considered to be an animal that is similar in appearance to a fox. It has a dark brown body color, a white snout, short black limbs, a stubby tail, and a black “pirate-like mask” on its face. The head is relatively large, round or triangular in shape, with a pair of large, bright eyes. The nose is short and wide, and the mouth looks very powerful when it is open.
The ears are small, relatively high, and triangular in shape. The back is straight, the shoulders are muscular, and the waist is slightly curved. The limbs are short and stout, with the front legs slightly shorter than the hind legs. The soles of the feet are webbed, which helps them swim in water. The tail is short, stout, furry, and similar in color to the body.
Distributed
They are mainly distributed in Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. Raccoon dogs mainly live in mountains, forests and bushes near water, and are also commonly found in hills, plains and grasslands. Raccoon dogs are nocturnal animals, hiding in their nests to rest during the day and coming out to look for food at dusk. They are good at climbing trees and swimming, but they are not as agile as jackals and foxes.
The food of raccoon dogs mainly includes various small rodents, such as mice, fish, frogs, birds, snakes, shrimps, crabs, etc., as well as insects, such as beetles, beetles, locusts, moths, lepidoptera larvae, etc. In addition, raccoon dogs also eat plant foods, such as roots, fruits, berries, seeds and nuts. Under artificial breeding conditions, the food of raccoon dogs can be more diversified, including fish fillets, duck racks, chicken racks, grains, and other fruits and vegetables. In short, the food of raccoon dogs is varied, and varies according to their habitat and food preferences.
The main natural enemies of raccoon dogs are wild beasts such as wolves and lynxes. Wherever there are wolves, the number of raccoon dogs decreases significantly, especially in early spring. In addition, raccoon dogs and badgers have similar habitats and live in harmony with each other. In winter, raccoon dogs and badgers live together and rarely fight. The chinese raccoon dogs have other natural enemies, such as wild beasts and birds of prey such as weasels, leopard cats, and eagle owls, as well as other animals such as foxes, eagles, and snakes. These carnivores control the number of wild raccoon dogs and prevent them from becoming a disaster.
Breeding
Breeding season of raccoon dogs is usually from November to April. The breeding preparation period from November to January of the following year. The breeding period from February to March, and the gestation period from March to April. Raccoon dogs are monogamous. A female raccoon dog and a male raccoon dog will form a permanent and stable mate relationship. During the estrus period, several male raccoon dogs will fight because they want to please a female raccoon dog, while female raccoon dogs will rarely compete for male raccoon dogs. When the male raccoon dog’s tail is in an inverted U shape, it means that it is in estrus or defending its territory. The breeding cycle of raccoon dogs is relatively long, generally taking 8 to 9 months. The number of reproduction per litter is usually around 5 to 6.
Raccoon dogs usually live in caves in the wilderness. So they are commonly know as earth dogs, hairy dogs, and earth carts. Although they are fat, they are very agile and can climb trees. In the winter in the north, raccoon dogs will enter a hibernation state. But this hibernation is different from real hibernation. They will occasionally come out to move around when the weather is warmer. Which is a phenomenon unique to raccoon dogs among canids.
Raccoon is an economic fur animal, and its fur is of high value. Raccoon fur is soft and warm, so it is often use to make high-end fur coats, collars, fur hats, etc. These products are usually fashionable, noble, and warm, and are deeply love by consumers.
