Tanuki: The Dog That Thinks It’s A Raccoon

This is the only Canid that hibernates. It also looks like a raccoon. This is the Raccoon Dog.

Special thanks to Japan Trail Cam, Please check out their Youtube channel
@japantrailcam

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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CREDITS
Animalogic Created by Dylan Dubeau and Andrew Strapp
Executive Producer, Director, and Director of Photography: Dylan Dubeau
Host: Danielle Dufault
Editors: Jim Pitts and Cat Senior
Writer, Researcher, Associate Producer, Camera Operator: Andres Salazar

Music Tracks from Audio Network:
Strutting Out
In Agreement
Sneaks And Ladders
Curious Incident
Primrose Hill Sparkle
Magical Maze
Pocket Pickers
Hyperactive Electro Monkeys

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Examining the nature of the beast.

[AnnaMarianne]

I spent my childhood in the countryside of Finland. We had a huge wild garden. I loved animals, saw lots of them around. I liked raccoon dogs, but I never saw even one, even though I really wanted to. Then, when I was 20, my parents had to move out of the house into a city. It was emotional, saying the final goodbye to my old childhood home and all the places around it, filled with memories. I spent the last night there, and woke up into the last morning in the old house. A beautiful bright midsummer morning. I went into the living room and looked out of the window into the back yard.... and there was a raccoon dog there. Just casually going about its business. I had never known there were raccoon dogs in the area. It felt like a gift, a parting gift.

[mosscolossus]

Despite being the subject of legend, they're hardly understood or thoroughly studied or even cared for in Japan. What we actually know of their social habits is the fact they're monogamous lovers that mate for life (often birthing 3-4 generations in their lifetime); and how multiple families share a singular feces pile that allows them to exchange information on food quality/quantity and available sources/types in their habitat.
After the introduction of Procyon lotor (true Raccoons) to Japan in the 80's, the overlapping niche has caused the raccoon dog's habitats to be contested; and with a more aggressive opponent the raccoon dogs are very slowly being pushed into endangerment.

[Marrwgar]

Wait. That's a real animal?!
Was gonna be so disappointed if you didn't talk about their magic scrote powers.

[kompto-confett]

To be honest, I wonder why Tanuki are not extinct. Tanuki have a characteristic of stiffening up when startled, and are often hit by cars. They also care for their partners so much that they will not try to have children if their partner dies. If their partner gets hit by a car and dies, they will go there frequently and eventually get hit by a car and die just like their partner. They do not have weapons such as sharp claws, fangs, or great strength. They are quiet and timid in nature. They do not try to attack people.
Perhaps the reason why they are not extinct is because they are not tasty and have charming looking.

[emccarrell]

"Of course, they're only trying to survive, and it's not their fault they were taken from their native range." That hit deep

[InsrtFnnyHr]

I feel like this one is gonna try to sell me a house loan

[LifefulLife]

Haven't seen anyone mention yet how Nintendo literally created Tom Nook after the Tanuki- an animal thats known for stealing from people and tricking them

[pvtpaink]

Magic sack!
"Pom Poko" for anyone who wants a fascinating movie.

[PhantoRoyce]

In Japanese Folklore tanuki had such massive balls they would sling them over their backs to carry them. Gaara from Naruto, being the jinchuriki of a tanuki, shares many physical traits with them such as the dark marks around his eyes and his gourd (which is shaped like like a ball sack). Gaara basically has giant balls that he carries on his back

[korosuke]

Aw I love Tanuki. It's just like a dog but round and fluffy. I remember the old news where a Japanese grandpa took one back home and ketp it as a pet. He insisted "It's a dog I found in a mountain". He gave it a collar and everything😂 Maybe somewhere in North America, a grandpa accidentally get a pet racoon thinking it's a "dog".

[JemCruz]

Now I know why Tony Tony Chopper is pissed when he is called a tanuki.

[rowanheart]

A stoat and a raccoon-dog are having a conversation
Stoat: see you around, raccoon!
Raccoon-dog: Raccoon? I am a raccoon-DOG! YOU WEASELS ARE SO INSENSITIVE!
Stoat: Weasel? I AM A STOAT!!

[LeoStaley]

I never realized that Mario's tanuki suit was named after a real animal.

[jessicaandersson]

Racoon dogs didn't escape from the fur farms, they were released after the farmers found racoon dogs in captivity don't produce the same impressive kind of fur as the wild ones. They planned on hunting them, instead the animals spread everywhere. One of the reasons they are so disliked now is many animals carry a parasite that can be harmful for people.

[SweetLikeHoneyDew]

I think it's interesting that Tanukis have similar markings to North America's Raccoon, but resemble foxes more than anything else. So cute 😍

[dlee]

That's why Rocket gets annoyed when people call him a raccoon - he's really a tanuki. :-)

[mamaluigi]

An adorable animal in such a small package, just watch out for them trying to sell you a house with a "small loan" of 3 million bells.
(Also still wanting to see the Caecilian covered eventually)

[jenmash]

I had the privilege of working with these guys at the zoo in my college when I studied there. They were pleasant little furballs, and didn't cause much trouble at all

[Harkness]

I honestly have lived 38 years and knew of Tanukis since Mario 3 in 1990. I had no idea they were a real animal until today, always thought it was some mythical version of Raccoons.

[HayTatsuko]

I love you all so much for featuring my favorite critter! All one really needs to know how successful this branch of the canid family is is to know they have been around for about 8-9 million years. Some of the Japanese population, the tanuki, has significant chromosomal differences from mainland raccoon-dogs and probably should be considered its own species.