A BAFFLED game keeper is appealing for help to solve the mystery surrounding the most unusual animal he’s ever come across.

Keeper Sam Green, was astonished after his vehicle hit what he initially thought was a badger which bolted across the road as he drove in the dark at Leighton Reservoir, near Masham. When he got out he found what looked like a dead raccoon.

“I really couldn’t believe it, “ said Mr Green. “It was very fluffy but had markings like a raccoon, it was only when I checked on the internet, I discovered it was a raccoon dog, I was in shock, I’d never seen anything like it.

“We’d had a report from a local lady that she had seen a raccoon after eight of her ducks had been killed, I just thought she must be mistaken and it was a badger and maybe a mink had been getting the ducks, but it probably was the raccoon dog.

“I would really like to know where it came from and if anyone knows anything about it. They are a native of Asia and Russia and have spread to northern Europe, sometimes bred for fur, but they are wild animals. They’re not related to raccoons at all but are a dog related to the fox family.

“This must have escaped from somewhere, this area would have been ideal, they like woodland and they can climb trees. They have extremely sharp teeth and have a really strong smell, I can’t see anyone would want it as a pet,” added Mr Green, who works for a local estate.

He’s now taken the animal, which has been frozen, to taxidermist Brian Lancaster in Bedale to have it preserved.

Mr Lancaster said: “This is the first one I have had from the wild, I have in the past had a raccoon found in the same area and frankly find it very strange, neither are native to this country and could only be either escapees or have been deliberately released. It looks like quite a young animal, someone must know where it came from.”

The RSPCA say they are very concerned about the trend of keeping raccoon dogs as pets. A spokesperson added:” We have in recent years dealt with a number of cases where the animals have either escaped or been deliberately released to the wild.

“We urge people to think hard about taking on any exotic pet. We would not recommend they take on raccoon dogs at all, they are simply not suited to a domestic environment.”