You have probably never heard of this strange animal, which is neither a raccoon nor a typical “dog.” A small member of the canidae (dog) family, the raccoon dog is unique, with no close living relatives.

Several characteristics of this animal are unusual, but most obvious is the uncanny resemblance to its namesake animal, which inhabits North and South America. The raccoon dog’s grayish-brown fur has long been prized by fur-traders, and its small head and elongated snout are pale golden-yellow, decorated by a dark “mask” around the eyes. Like a raccoon, it has a rather stocky body with short legs and a long, bushy tail (which is not striped). It has long, curved claws, allowing it to fish in streams, and to even climb trees! Its teeth differ from those of most other canines, and are more suited to an omnivorous diet of smaller animals and plant materials.

The raccoon dog is indigenous to eastern Asia (parts of Siberia, China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan), where it is often called the tanuki. While not native to Europe, it was introduced to many eastern countries through the fur industry. Upon introduction to an area, the raccoon dog has shown itself to adapt well and flourish. Its omnivorous eating habits allow it to survive in many environments, on many different sources of food—both plant- and animal-based.

As winters are harsh in many of its native climates, it has utilized another very “un-doglike” behavior: hibernation. Before winter, a raccoon dog will prepare itself by gaining up to an additional 50% of its body weight in order to survive! Unlike most animals that hibernate, however, during warmer winter periods, raccoon dogs will sometimes wake up and search for additional food.

The raccoon dog produces one of the largest litter sizes among canines. The young are raised by both father and mother, which means they often have more success in living to adulthood. After birth, the pups live in a family group, hunting and foraging with their parents until they are fully mature at about nine months.

These are not all of the raccoon dog’s interesting abilities. Be inspired to research more about this intriguing part of God’s amazing creation!