Animals on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
The Raccoons (Mapache) in Costa Rica belong to the same species as those in North America. They are found near beaches
and rivers, or sometimes at night in your kitchen looting your food supplies.
The clever animals with their Bandido masks quickly learn how to open cupboards and fridges.
The White-nosed Coati is diurnal and frequently
seen in Costa Rica. Adult males are solitary while females and juveniles live
in groups of up to 20 members.
These long-nosed members of the raccoon family have a highly developed sense of smell
to localize their food which ranges from fruit to mice, tarantulas, lizards and your kitchen contents.
Coatis have even been known to unscrew bottles.
Though not uncommon, Kinkajous are hardly seen as they avoid the daylight.
At night you can often hear them call: they make a short, barking wee-wee-wee.
Kinkajous look really cute (if you
could see them) with big black eyes and a soft, gold-colored fur.
Their prehensile tail is longer than the body, helping them to climb around the treetops when
searching for fruit, honey or insects.