The Coatimundi
A common Belize critter

What`s this funny little animal scurrying about? It`s a coatimundi! The locals often refer to them as "quash".

These raccoon looking creatures are actually from the raccoon family, but have longer tails and snouts. In fact the tail is as long as their bodies which are about 66cm. They are found all over Belize and most Central American countries.

The locals often attract them by leaving scraps of food about which the coatis will readily eat. They love eating most things including insects, small animals, and fruit. Curious creatures that can become quite friendly even eating from off the hand which doesn`t happen with most wild Belize animals. It`s possible to domesticate them, but beware, they are mischievous and are capable of trashing your tidy home.

Farmers have a different view. Not a cuddly one either. They find them a nuisance as they will often raid the hen houses, and reek havoc in the field crops.

The group in the picture are probably young ones, but females and their young move around in groups that can range from 5 to 30. This can be a bit frightening if you come across them, and especially if they start to approach. But they are interested in what you are carrying most of the time. Just a bit curious as to what you might have for them to eat.

Male coatis are loners and will join a female group only to mate. After 11 weeks the young are born in litters of 3 - 5 and will join the group along with their mothers.

Like many Belize animals, the coatimundi likes to forage around in the dense jungles, savannah, and mangroves of Belize, and when night falls they find safety high up in the forest canopies away from jaguars, ocelots, foxes, and man.

These cute little critters are clever too and are good at fooling you. If they hear a sudden loud noise like a hunters gunshot, they will fall down and play dead, but when the hunter thinks "Gotcha!"...it`s gone like a shot up the nearest tree. Most infuriating to the hunter.

To see an collection of Belize wildlife especially the coatimundi, take a visit to the Belize Zoo along the Western Highway, and make sure the batteries are fully charged in your camera.