meet java. he is a year and a half old in this picture. he is a coati. (singular is coatimundi.) i raised him from the time he was 2 and 1/2 weeks old. i also raised his mama so it wasnt hard when HE came along! java is kin to the american raccoon. native to south and central america his kind are also found up through parts of west texas and mexico. though not pictured here he has a lllooonnnggg ringed tail (gads! its beautiful!). he uses his long nose to root through leaf litter and to stick deep in the holes he so easily digs with those awesome claws. as well as digging great holes he is a prolific climber, with reversible ankles which facilitate climbing down things head-first just like a squirrel! he eats just about everything, though they each have their favorite treats and such. they're like insanely opinionated 2-year-olds!!! one of the things he likes best in the whole world is rotisserie chicken and the other is SCRATCHEEEEZZZZZ!!!
when he comes inside for the night we take off his harness and he gets good stratchies under his arms and chest. he is the most awesomest pet i have had in quite some time!!! (definitely much snugglier than the alligator, but she's another story...)