What is a Tanuki?
It is also popular in Japan and has appeared in Studio Ghibli movies. Ponpoko, The raccoon dog has recently become of interest to Westerners unfamiliar with this rare species. Also known as the raccoon dog, this charismatic creature is native to Far East Asia and is neither a raccoon nor a dog. They belong to the canine family and are the closest relatives of real foxes. Despite its humorous appearance, the plight of raccoon dogs in modern society is more tragic than one might imagine.
Are raccoon dogs legal or not?
Unfortunately, as a result of the raccoon dog’s invasive tendencies, many countries, including the United States, have banned tanuki possession. The United States has a surprisingly small number of species such as possums, meerkats, dholes and fruit bats that are banned from private ownership in all states at the federal level. There needs to be enough evidence that the species can be invasive to make this special list, and there is plenty of evidence for raccoon dogs.
There is little evidence that raccoon dogs adversely affect game birds or other native animals. [1], one must assume that such prolific species can cause dramatic impacts. Raccoon dogs are now not illegal in some countries, including parts of the UK surrounded by water. As a result, the RSPCA and others are working to change this situation.
There have been rare sightings of this species in the wild, but it has been speculated that it could have spread as easily as in other parts of Europe, probably because it escaped or was intentionally released as a pet. there isis currently no evidence That the raccoon dog has settled in the UK.
Is the raccoon dog an alien species?
Throughout Europe and parts of Russia, raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) It is a prominent alien species. As a result, the species is under severe persecution, with various environmental groups calling for extinction attempts, and it is actively hunted.
Raccoon dogs pose several threats to wildlife, including preying on ground-nesting birds and other small animals. They also carry several pathogens, including tapeworms. Echinococcus multilocularis—It can be potentially fatal to humans if left untreated. Trichinella Canids, like all members of the species Canidae, are carriers of the rabies virus. Unfortunately, they are established in many countries and may not be completely eradicated.
Where are you established?
Raccoon dogs are native to Eastern Siberia, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Korea and Japan. [3]. It was first introduced to parts of the former Soviet Union in 1929. [2] from the islands of the Sea of Japan.
- Raccoon dogs have successfully established themselves in Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine. In the 1960s they emigrated from Poland to Brandenburg. A small population, rarely sighted in the 1980s, expanded rapidly in Germany in the 1990s. [3].
- The highest rates of raccoon dog population growth are in southern and southeastern Finland, where one million raccoon dogs live. born every year. The first raccoon dogs in Finland were sighted in his 1930s, and sightings began regularly in the 1950s. [2]. It became widespread by the mid-1970s and peaked in the 1980s. Today, in Finland, its population is stable, making it the most abundant carnivore in the country. [4].
- The animal appears to have spread to other European countries such as Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, France, and Norway, where it has been occasionally sighted. [2].Likely spread from Sweden to Norway [1].
- Today, raccoon dogs are still endemic in Central Europe and have spread throughout Northern and Eastern Europe. [1]. A total of 9,000 (out of 10,000) raccoon dogs were successfully released into wildlife in 76 districts, territories and republics of the Soviet Union. [3].
Adaptability of the raccoon dog
Raccoon dogs are highly adaptable, and in many parts of Europe and Russia, the climate and food availability are the same as the raccoon dog’s habitat. Raccoon dogs can travel long distances and have excellent reproductive ability, giving birth to an average of nine offspring per litter. [4].In Finland, raccoon dogs were able to expand their range at a speed of 40 km per year [3].
Several factors combine to make the raccoon dog successful in adapting to the rapidly spreading alien species. Ability to hibernate in regions with long winters (only canids hibernate among canids). No natural enemies. Their natural tendency to wander over long distances allows for gene flow within the population.Monogamous nature allows parents to raise children together [4]and of course the fact that there were multiple referrals [1]. Raccoon dog populations tend to decline in northern regions, so a longer growing season seems to work best. [2].
Why raccoon dogs should be legal
There is considerable evidence to demonstrate that deliberately releasing large breeding populations of raccoon dogs into suitable climates will inevitably lead to their colonization and spread. However, there appears to be no evidence that rare escapes or intentional release of small numbers of animals (with or without reproductive quality) have such consequences.
In fact, invasive mammals that have settled solely from released or escaped animal populations are extremely rare. Generally, the requirement is that the species must be endemic, as is the case with domestic pets such as cats, dogs and goldfish (always legal), which are exotic species in many countries.
Using Florida as a model state, exotic pet keeping is relatively popular in Florida, and the climate is favorable to many species. While significant numbers of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish have settled in various parts of Florida, the number of truly established mammals derived from the pet trade is pitifully small. Most of these were the result of large numbers of breeding animals that escaped or were intentionally released from a single facility.
Raccoon dogs are unpopular pets around the world, and since they are not bred in breeding facilities for the pet trade, it seems that large numbers of animals cannot be released at the same time. In fact, the raccoon dog fur trade, which was the source of the problem in the first place, remains legal even though it poses this risk.
Not the best best option!
As a result of the raccoon dog’s natural history, exotic pet owners do not receive cultural approval, so they may never be legalized in the United States and may be banned in more countries over time. We can learn a lot from the story of the raccoon dog. The first and most obvious is to never intentionally introduce alien species under any circumstances. Many people blame escaping pets as the cause of invasive species, but the reality is that this is unlikely to happen.
of the most invasive species mammalian It originated in the release of hundreds of breeding individuals, and this is also true for some reptiles and birds.There is evidence that the invasion of Burmese pythons into Florida began with the destruction of snake farms During Hurricane Andrew. When people refer to exotic animals other than native species in the wild, they mistakenly believe the species to be an established one, which is actually not the case. Accidental (and unfortunately intentional) releases are inevitable, but these isolated events need not cause environmental damage.
How to reduce or eliminate environmental damage from the pet trade
- Regulate breeders and require microchipping of species found to be invasive in an evidence-based manner.
- Require neutering or spaying of certain species if sold as non-breeding pets.
- By restricting trade to hobby breeders with allowed breeding pair numbers, we discourage large breeders who house a significant number of breeding animals in a single facility.
- Enlighten the public why releasing pets is bad for the environment, and hold a rare pet amnesty day. Refrain from owning species that require frequent maintenance by all but the most qualified owners.
References
- Kauhara, Karina and Rafal Kowalczyk. “Invasion of the Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonoides in Europe: History of Colonization, Characteristics Behind Success, and Threats to Native Animals” zoology today 57.5 (2011): 584-598.
- Helle, Eero and Kaarina Kauhara. “History and current status of distribution of raccoon dogs in Finland” ecography 14.4 (1991): 278-286.
- Dreygara, Frank, et al. “Preliminary findings from ecological studies of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in eastern Germany.” Era of Economy and Nature 9 (2000): 147-152.
- Mammals of the Soviet Union Vol. II part 1a, SIRENIA AND CANIVORA (sea cows, wolves and bears), VG Heptner and NP Naumov editors, Science Publishers, Inc. USA. 1998. ISBN 1-886106-81-9.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. The Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for personal or professional advice in business, financial, legal or technical matters.
comment
Is it legal to have pets in california July 19, 2019:
Is it legal to keep them as pets in California?
Melissa A. Smith (Author) From New York, October 4, 2018:
Thank you “T” and Ellison.
Melissa A. Smith (Author) From New York, October 4, 2018:
ManNewt I haven’t looked into those yet. It amazes me how all the unusual pet laws are really meaningless. I didn’t expect to come to this conclusion and previously thought there was good reason to ban tanuki.
logician From October 4, 2018 to now:
A very informative and interesting article.
Mannewt October 4, 2018:
Speaking of federally banned species, I don’t think we have enough evidence that other mammals, unlike raccoon dogs, can survive in the continental United States. Brushtail possums are banned because they invade predator-free islands. When the list was first made, meerkats and fruit bats were also on the list, but they were occupied until Eisenhower enacted Hawaii as a state and extended the ban on harmful species to “all 50 states.” applied only to the islands where The dholes take the cake because I’ve never heard dholes invade anywhere…
Ellison Hartley From Maryland, USA, October 4, 2018:
This is very interesting! It sure is cute!