SUPER SURPRISE
THURSDAY# 16
Happy Super Surprise Thursday! We’ve featuring a very special mammal and a member of the canid (dog) family. This mammal looks like a raccoon, but they’re not! So let’s get to it and meet…
MEET THE RACCOON DOG!
Range/Habitat: Europe-Central Asia-Japan/rivers, lakes, woodlands
Diet: Omnivore: fruit, mice, crabs and fish
Length/Weight: 20-23 ½”/ 17lbs
Conservation Status: Common
Fun Facts:
- Raccoon Dogs are members are the canid family. They are related to wolves and foxes.
- They look like raccoons with their dark fur mask on their face.
- Raccoon dogs live in pairs or small family groups.
- Raccoon dogs are nocturnal (active at night).
- They have two coats of fur in the winter, an under coat and a top coat to keep them warm in cold climates!
- They are excellent climbers.
- Raccoon dogs are the only members of the canid family that hibernates (a long sleep). They can increase their body weight by 50% for winter.
Raccoon dogs are a cool mammal. They are built to live in cold weather climates with their think fur. And isn’t it cool that they hibernate! Sometimes we wish we could hibernate all winter and wake-up in time for spring! Can you name another animal that hibernates?
The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond 