Raccoon Dogs

Asian canines · masked face · wild dogs · forest hunters

Masked like raccoons. Raccoon dogs have dark fur patterns across their eyes that look just like a raccoon's mask, which is why people call them raccoon dogs even though they're actually canines, not raccoons.

Only in Asia. These wild dogs live in forests and woodlands across East Asia, from Siberia to Japan, where they hunt small animals and eat berries and insects.

Deep winter sleepers. Unlike most canines, raccoon dogs enter a deep sleep called torpor during harsh winters, letting their body temperature drop to save energy until spring arrives.

Slow but clever hunters. Raccoon dogs are not fast runners, but they're great swimmers and climbers who use their intelligence and patience to catch fish, crabs, frogs, and small mammals.

Family animals. Raccoon dogs stay loyal to their partners and work together to raise their pups, often living in dens dug by other animals or in hollow trees.