Coatis are in the raccoon family and they are indigenous to the southwest U.S., Mexico, Central and South America. They are sometimes called “coatimundis” but their official name is coati in both Spanish and English. Around here locals refer to this animal as a “tejón,” which is actually a badger, so this is a technically a misnomer as well.
What makes coatis different from raccoons and badgers is that they are diurnal (active during the day) and arboreal, so they prefer to spend as much time as possible in the trees. They are highly intelligent and curious animals. They are omnivores, so they eat whatever they can find, which generally means fruit and insects.
The females live in large troops along with their young. When Coati males become mature, they leave the troops and live solitarily, only joining the female troops when mating.
They can be feisty little creatures and sometimes fight with raccoons or feral cats for food and territory; however, you’ll see them in close proximity to these animals when there is food to be shared, such as at a compost area along the North Akumal road!
My husband and I rescued a baby coati last year and hand-reared it until it went back into the jungle as an adult. Someone asked me if they make good pets. My husband would reply, “Well, besides the fact that they have razor-sharp claws, bite all the time, and are not housetrained, they are terrific pets!” They truly do NOT make good pets and are much better off in the jungle in their natural habitat. However, this one captured our hearts very quickly.
Yes, coatis know how to swim! This little guy enjoyed his paddleboard rides and preferred to be above water, but when he occasionally fell in he was an excellent swimmer.
This coati is back in the jungle where he belongs, but if you ever come across a wild animal that is injured or an abandoned baby, there are sanctuaries and refuges to take them to near Akumal. Contact me if you need any help! Michaela 984-119-0856