Raccoon dogs, the urban wanderers

This is a family of raccoon dogs living in the rockery of a residential community in Songjiang District, Shanghai. This year, the mother has successfully bred and raised three pups. The rockery resembles the natural habitat of raccoon dogs and provides a perfect shelter for the family.

In the last few years, wild raccoon dogs, a Class II-protected native animal in China, have become rampant in Songjiang District, Shanghai, an international metropolis. According to the investigation, over 300 residential complexes in Shanghai have reported traces of this animal. The newly built residential communities and green areas in Songjiang provide new living spaces and abundant food sources for raccoon dogs’ survival and reproduction. 

Meanwhile, concerns have arisen about the potential diseases and attacks from the raccoon dogs. Their future as emerging urban dwellers remains unclear.