RSPCA officers had a very different case to deal with at the weekend when a dog walker spotted a ring-tailed coatimundi wandering loose through the countryside.

More accustomed to sunnier climes, the mammal was picked up from the Abbeygate area of Middlesbrough early on Sunday morning.

RSPCA inspector Nick Jones said: “It was definitely one of the more bizarre collections I’ve had in my time.

“Unsurprisingly, the dog walker got quite a shock when he stumbled upon this coati - it’s not what you expect to find in the Middlesbrough countryside.

“Luckily, this adult male wasn’t injured and I took him to a local vet for temporary boarding.

“The coati - who has been nicknamed Razzle by staff at the practise - thankfully wasn’t injured and was quite happy once he got some fruit to nibble on.

“He wasn’t microchipped but we expect he’s escaped from nearby so we’re hoping we might be able to find his owner.”

Ring-tailed coatimundis are relatives of the raccoon. They are native to South America where they live in forests and eat mainly invertebrates and fruit.

  • If anyone recognises him, contact the RSPCA’s inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018.