Kushiro, Hokkaido (北海道釧路) – Tanuki (たぬき / 狸 – Japanese Raccoon Dog) pups in the wild

We were walking the Kushiro Marsh Observatory walkway (釧路市湿原展望台) when we came across a family of wild Tanuki (狸 – Japanese Raccoon Dog.) They consisted of the mother, father (not shown) and about 8 puppies.

Japanese Tanuki are a species of canid endemic to Japan, and are most closely related to Foxes. They are in no way related to Raccoons.