Hunt & Kill Judas Animals: From Economic Significance to Ecological Mayhem –

The Inescapable fate of Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Jenkins MacedoResearch Scientist/Environmentalist/Statistical Analyst

Cover Images Source: http://www.factzoo.com/mammals/raccoon-dog-night-wanderer.html Retrieved: 04/10/2016

Tuesday, May 2, 20232

Introduction Humans have developed systems to control

the environment. To decide what should exist and what should

be eliminated. In the name of biodiversity, ecological

protection and conservation we kill other animals no matter what that means for those species for future generation.

This is the fate of countless animals including Raccoon dogs, Burmese pythons, Emerald ash borers, Nutria, European starlings, Norway rats, Mongoose, wolves, constrictors, etc.

These animals and many more are hunted and killed in the name of biodiversity & ecological conservation.

How is the detrimental to nature?

Are we not invasive? How come? Why should we always control nature?Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/animals/g257/4344787/?slide=5. Retrieved: 04/11/2016

Source: http://www.factzoo.com/mammals/raccoon-dog-night-wanderer.html

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Brief Background of Raccoon dogs Origin: A canid native to East Asia and was mainly hunted for its

fur and in some cases for meat. Biological Classification: It falls under the kingdom animalia

and taxonomically named: Nyctereutes procyonoides . Morphology: It has elongated torso, short legs and tail and

resemblance of raccoon with pointy head in the form of the South American fox.

Physiology: Study shows that raccoon dogs adapt over wintertime by fasting thus burning excess body fat as the main source for metabolic processes (Mustonen et al. 2003).

Behavior: Monogamous by the way. Mating start in Feb to late April. Captive males are known to be polygamous (interesting). Gestation period last between 61-70 days with average pups 6-7. Lactation last for 45-60 days with full growth in about 4.5 months with life expectancy known well studied. They hibernate during the winter.

Major Predators: Wolves are consider the main “natural” predators of raccoon dogs with about 64% of predatory deaths associated with wolves in Northern Russia. The pups are mainly the victims of red foxes with casualties reported amongst adults. Raccoon dogs are also killed by eagles and hawks.

Any Benefit to Humans? Fur. The fur from raccoon dogs are known as “murmansky" fur and also marketed in the US as “asiatic raccoon.

Any Threat to Humans? Game & crop damage, threatens muskrat trade, and are found to be destructive to other aquatic lives.

Source: http://a-z-animals.com/animals/raccoon-dog/pictures/4118/

Source: http://11ainzilya.somee.com/Items.cshtml?cat=Urocyon

Citation: Mustonen AM, Nieminen P, Puukka M, Asikainen J, Saarela S, Karonen SL, Kukkonen JV, Hyvärinen H. (2003). ” Physiological adaptations of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) to seasonal fasting-fat and nitrogen metabolism and influence of continuous melatonin treatment.” J Comp Physiol B. 2004 Jan;174(1):1-12.

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Why care about Raccoon dogs? We should care about raccoon dogs

because: They are part of nature and nature as a

system can balance itself.

It would be counterproductive hunting and killing raccoon dogs in an effort to re-engineer the natural systems.

In China and other places, raccoon dogs are raised in cages in industrial areas and in some instances skinned alive for their fur.

A government policy such as the ones in Norway, Sweden and other places that legally that hold events to hunt and kill raccoon dogs not for their meat, but to eliminate the animal due to the so-called biodiversity and ecological concerns are short-sighted, poorly informed and such policy don’t understand nature as a complex system.

Source: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/magazines/2015/09-10/hsus-campaign-for-truth-in-fur-labels.html

Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Luxury-Raccoon-Dog-Fur-Collar-Wholesale_1345005183.html

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What Next? Understand that nature as a system. As a system, nature knows how to balance dominant species. Let us stop re-engineering natural systems and processes for very

short-term and not well thought of goals. Raccoon dogs are part of a natural system