Raccoon dog

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The raccoon dog is a stocky canid with a black facial mask, native to East Asia. Despite its name it is a true dog relative, not a raccoon. It is the only canid that hibernates through harsh winters.

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At a glance

Class: Mammals
Lives in: East Asia (Japan, Korea, China)
Diet: Eats both plants and meat (omnivore)
Weight: about 6 kg
Lifespan: up to about 11 years
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN LC)
Habitat: forests, wetlands, towns & cities

Quick answers

Where does the Raccoon dog live?

It lives in forests, wetlands, towns & cities. On the globe you can find it near East Asia (Japan, Korea, China).

How big is the Raccoon dog?

It grows to about 6 kg.

What does the Raccoon dog eat?

Its diet: eats both plants and meat (omnivore).

How long does the Raccoon dog live?

It can live up to about 11 years.

Is the Raccoon dog endangered?

It is listed as Least Concern (IUCN LC).

The raccoon dog is a heavy-set, fox-like member of the dog family from East Asia. It gets its name from the dark mask on its face, which looks like a raccoon's. In spite of the name it is not a raccoon at all: its closest relatives are the true foxes.

Raccoon dogs live in forests, wetlands and even near towns in Japan, Korea and China. They are active mostly at night and eat many things, from small animals and fish to fruit and roots. They are unusual among dogs because they can climb trees and because they spend cold winters in a deep sleep. Total body length is usually between 45 and 71 centimetres, and the tail is short.

Winter sleepers

Most members of the dog family stay awake all year, but raccoon dogs hibernate during cold winters. To prepare, they gain weight: males that weigh about 3 kilograms in March can reach 6.5 to 7 kilograms by late summer, and a few get even heavier. Their winter fur is long and thick, with a dense underfur, and it protects them from temperatures down to about minus 20 or minus 25 degrees Celsius.

Two species and a folk tale

Scientists recognise two living raccoon dogs: the common raccoon dog of mainland East Asia and the Japanese raccoon dog, called the tanuki. The tanuki is a famous character in Japanese folk tales, where it often plays tricks. In Korea the animal is called neoguri. Raccoon dogs were also brought to Europe for the fur trade and are now treated there as an invasive species, listed by the European Union since 2019.

Fun facts

It is the only member of the dog family that sleeps through cold winters, and in Japan it is the folk-tale 'tanuki'.
The raccoon dog is the only member of the dog family that sleeps through cold winters.
It shares the habit of climbing trees with only one other dog relative, the North American gray fox.
In Scandinavia it is called a marten-dog.