The Newest Family Member: Zed the Coatimundi

Meet the latest addition to the family.... Zed the Coatimundi!
Zed is a fun-loving 12-week-old White-Nosed Coati who loves to travel and enjoy life. From learning tricks, going for runs on his harness, travelling to educational events, to digging in the beach sand... I have compiled many of Zed's favourite activities into this collection of clips. This little dude LOVES adventure! I hope you enjoy his crazy antics. :)
Some info about his species:
The White-nosed Coati (nasua narica) is a medium-sized mammal indigenous to Central America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States (Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico). They are large members of the family Procyonidae (the raccoon family), with the males growing to be as heavy as 27 lbs at maturity while the females are usually between 6 and 13 lbs. The name "coati" (pronounced ko-WAH-tee) is derived from the Tupi term "akwa'tim", meaning "pointy nose". The coati's nose is incredibly flexible and is able to bend 60 degrees in any direction. They use their nose, coupled with their powerful and heavily-clawed paws, to forage for grubs and insects in the earth. A coati's diet includes grubs, insects, tarantulas, reptile and bird eggs, fruits, and any small vertebrates they can catch. Coatis are the only procyonid that is diurnal by nature; namely, they are most active during the day. Female coatis and their young form bands of 30-40 individuals while male coatis live solitary lives, only joining other coatis for breeding. These lone male coatis are called "coatimundis". White-nosed Coatis are listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List and are abundant in the wild.
Note to viewers:
Zed is an educational animal ambassador and travels with Shorty, the rats, and a bevy of other animals to schools, camps, etc. doing educational presentations. I am a professional animal handler and have over a decade's experience working with animals, both wild and domestic. In no way do coatis' behaviour resemble a cat or dog's, and they are incredibly high-maintenance and destructive animals that can be difficult to handle especially as adults. You may think Zed is cute, but coatis do not have the same "pet quality" as dogs and cats and should only be in the hands of expert keepers. If you think you want a pet coati after watching Zed's video, please understand that these clips do not at all capture what it is like to live with this species. Coatis need all of your time and attention and will steal and destroy your belongings, can be temperamental, and are like living with a two-year-old child on caffeine (with sharp teeth and claws, and incredible jumping abilities) for their entire lives, which is around 15-20 years. As well, they can become very aggressive if they are not given the attention that they need. If you have fallen in love with coatis through Zed's video and are thinking, "I want one!", it may be best for you to just vicariously own one through Zed's videos. Coatis are an enormous commitment and are NOT an animal you can purchase on a whim.
Additional info about Zed:
Zed was NOT taken from the wild. He is a captive-born coati, as were his parents, his parents' parents, etc., just like your pet hamster. Acquiring a captive-born exotic animal species does not in any way support poaching/smuggling, in the same way acquiring a puppy from a reputable dog breeder does not support puppy mills. I work extensively to educate the public on coatis in the wild, and I vehemently oppose poaching and the illegal smuggling of wildlife.
To those wondering about his leash: Zed is currently in recall training. Once he has mastered a solid recall, he will be off-leash 24/7 like my other animals.
Music by Josh Woodward: www.joshwoodward.com/
Our official website: www.useyourclicker.com/
Our official blog: nanabordercollie.blogspot.com/
Our photos on flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/nanabord...
Our facebook: / 617175718326361

[@Hecateris]

How he acts and plays around reminds me of babies. How they wiggle around, raise their hands. Everything. It's so cute. I want one

[@DDanny1]

THINKING YOU WANT A COATI? PLEASE READ. What a GREAT VIDEO! It makes me wish I had done the same for our "Nasua Nasua" family member. But as NanaBorderCollie states, coatis are not for everyone. In fact, they are for almost no one to have as "pets" (coatis are the perfect example of an animal that can be a family member, but once mature, will never be a "pet"). Most of the coati "pet" videos you see are of relatively young coatis (below 2 or 3 years), because most people get rid of them when they find out how much trouble they can be. They are "Murphy's Law" with fur. I've shared my home with many exotics over the years and the only one more troublesome than our Coati was a chimp. And not by much. If you can't dedicate it's own room in close proximity to people, a couple of acres of trees and at LEAST a half hour twice a day of personal attention for a span of 20-24 YEARS, you are sentencing them to prison. Although they are one of the most social animals there are, they also are ferocious fighters (youtube "Jaguar vs. Coati" unless you really like jaguars). And no matter how tame they are, there is a sound right around the frequency a jangling chain makes that to coati's translates to "Must IMMEDIATELY DROP EVERYTHING AND KILL whatever is making that sound". It's incredibly weird. Some will do it to the sound of jangling keys (ours does not), a belt buckle (I have the scars to verify), the door of a metal cage (everytime) and thousands of other things that you won't know until you see a pissed off coati coming at you, nose turned up, teeth bared with a squeak/scream that Wes Cravens could have put to good use. Cuddly teddy bear to grizzly in 0 seconds flat. And judging from everything I've found, they can't help it. The vast majority of coati's attacking humans will have something to do with that type of sound, the person trying to "shoo away" a coati (they take that as an attack and they NEVER back down), or someone taking something away from them (if they have it, it's theirs). They are as smart as they are devious. They never lose because they never forget (largest frontal lobe of any non-primate predator) and are freakishly patient. Many zoos use them to test to see if enclosures are escape proof AND if their handling procedures have vulnerabilities because coatis will watch and look for opportunities they can take advantage of. They are deceptively strong. "I wonder what's inside this cellphone? Bugs maybe. If I can't rip it open, I bet it will open if I drop it from ever increasing heights. Uh oh, I'm being watched. I'll just swipe it when they aren't looking and work on it when no one is around." They also like to put anything that has a scent on their tails. You know, like perfume, deodorant, toothpaste, PAINT! "Alright! A gallon of paint! My incredible memory tells me this calls for the "ever increasing height" method to open". Coincidentally, their estimate of how much to put on their tail is always the exact amount they have available. You ever hire a coatimundi to paint your kitchen, laundry room and pantry? Don't. They are not good painters. Also, if they put something like fiberglass resin on their tail, it can cost up to $1152 in vet bills. So just child proof the house, right? Wrong. Coatis can open doors, zippers, latches, knobs, thumb locks...etc. as easily as you can. Including child proof latches (which is preferable to just breaking the latch or cabinet door through brute force), and you better plan on extra secure childproofing from floor to ceiling.If there are any unfinished parts of your home (like in a basement or attic), the interior of the walls, floors and ceilings will have to be child proofed also. Our coati can travel from the ceiling of the walk out basement to the attic above the third floor in a matter of minutes. We don't know how. She also has a habit of pulling on wires, and if they come out, wrapping them around studs many, many times. Electrical wires are secure. Alarm wires are not. She has "called" the fire department 4 times. They have a note at the fire department that says "Check to see if Coati is in her room". All the delivery people know to lock their vehicles when leaving them in our driveway because coati can enter and clean out everything made with sugar in any unlocked console or glove compartment. Or if it has a hidden latch, like an FX35 console, she can simply rip the lid off. I love my coati and wouldn't take anything for the time we've had together (11 years), but I can absolutely, positively tell you one thing for sure, 99% of the people who want one shouldn't get one, and 99% of the people who will be glad they got one are the aholes who keep them for a year or so and get rid of them as soon as they become problems, and will spend the rest of their lives lying about how long they had them and what happened to them.

[@NanaBorderCollie]

+DDanny1 Thank you immensely for providing this information to viewers, and I really hope they take the time to read what you have written in its entirety. No sugar-coating, and 100% accurate. Coatis are not pets, they are a lifestyle, and 99.9% of people are simply not equipped with the expertise required to handle and live with them once they are powerful adults. Videos published on KZbin often make coatis appear to be wonderful, loving companion animals, but these are only short clips that do not encompass the animals' entire lives (and like you said, they are frequently young individuals that have not reached sexual maturity). I could just as easily compile footage of my boy that would make people wonder why on earth I would ever want to live with such an animal (and in the best interest of the public, perhaps I should). Coatis are territorial, temperamental, headstrong, destructive, and VERY powerful. They need to be left to the experts.

[@scrubjay93]

+DDanny1 Thank you for all this information--there are so many animals abandoned after the initial honeymoon period, exotic and domestic. People just don't realize that the newness wears off very quickly and it takes a whole lot of commitment to have an animal like this. Decades ago when I was working as a volunteer at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, I was given a young coati to hold--they are extremely strong animals! It's not an animal you would want loose in your home without constant supervision and it's also not fair to lock them up because they are destructive. Leave it to people like the host of this channel--she obviously is intensely committed to working with her critters. Believe me people, the novelty wears off very quickly! With domestic rats you can have an incredibly smart little animal and the commitment is much shorter, 2-3 years. But you will still need an experienced vet and money to pay for the vet care.

[@NanaBorderCollie]

+scrubjay93 I wholeheartedly agree. The novelty ALWAYS wears off, no matter how exotic the species. And once it does, you are still responsible for properly caring for the animal in question for the length of their lifespan.

[@rhyfeddu]

Pretty darned adorbable. And Nana was very patient. lol

[@princesse228]

He is so cute Zed...the new boyfriend of the beautiful Nana...Thank You for sharing !

[@princesse228]

I Hope...so cuteeeeeee

[@trickcatalexis2027]

Awwwww.... So Sweet! Cool , that you wrote , that this animal is no "normal" pet and that it needs very much attention , love and security!:)

[@makaylad8987]

Zed is absolutely adorable! I love how curious he is!

[@matteocoronati7208]

He's one of the cutest creature I've ever seen

[@manditoemya8478]

He was so Adorable..I have a big soft spot for small animals n have a couple myself. You are an amazing trainer n your pets look so healthy n well cared for. ... Thxx for sharing! :)

[@Pheebysmum]

When the 4 minute end of the world warning comes, I'd like to spend it here with you & your beautiful creatures :) Your understanding, empathy & dedication to them all is so inspiring. Thank you :) Now I'll turn this off & go cuddle my own furry loves :) xxx

[@BorderColliAsh]

Awww, how adorable and so smart already

[@ICatheraTashaI]

My my, quite the nose on that critter

[@WeeklyWhiskers]

Truly LOVE Zed's spirit and such energy! He's absolutely adorable especially when he does "stick 'em up". He's an incredibly gorgeous coati!! Thank you for including the important disclaimer at the closing.

[@foxesgomoo]

looking at him stand up with his arms open makes me want to hug hin awh ;-;

[@ZolzaBC]

Awww he's sooooo cute! Congratulations!

[@SamSam-yf2xj]

Wow that's just too cute when he throws his arms up

[@vvvv7649]

Wow I've never heard of this animal before! I know all about animals and I love them!

[@clairemiller1094]

He is very cute and I can't wait to see what else he has learned in the future. I just want to say thank you very much for introducing me to rats and helping convince my dad how amazing they are! I had been watching your rat videos over and over and learning all about taking care of a rat. It's been about a year since I've gotten my two female dumbo rats Sweetie and Bear and I have been loving every day with them (but not as much as my dad!) I also have a border collie sheltie mix that I've had since I was five and I love seeing what tricks I can take from Nana and try to train her. Thank you so much for giving me the inspiration to be a proud rat owner and animal trainer in training ( hopefully as my career when I'm older ) and just being such an amazing person! Love you and your animals!

[@madampoulet2268]

Enjoy that cute awesome critter!

[@gotchyer6661]

Oh MAN!!! I was birn in the Southern Arizona desert. Coatis' are the coolest little dudes. I'm purdy aged now...but Yrs ago Disney had one of their SUNDAY EVENING MOVIES ...one I loved was 'CHARLEY,THE LONESOME COUGAR' Loved that animal series. going to dig some... but if you are familiar with afore mentioned movie...lemme know please. I love ALL of the kids. Thanks NANA & KAI for drawing me in. :) DG

[@AmazingAnimalTricks]

Aww, what a cute little coati.

[@romy5214]

Oh der ist so süß, Danke für das tolle Video!! Ja ich weiß aus Erfahrung, Nasenbären sind keine Haustiere und können auch ganz schön gefährlich sein. Aber wenn man ihnen genügend Platz und Zeit geben kann, dann sind es ganz tolle Tiere. Wünsche dir viel Glück mit ihm!!

[@gotchyer6661]

Nana is such a great "MOM". ZED....mav a lous!

[@georgiehenderson8750]

I love the way he grooms Nana. Friendly little fella.

[@aprilskies1051]

I just love that wee coatimundi. he looks a mischievous little thing. it must be lovely having the animals you have. it's lovely to see them so well cared for. your videos are great. Thanks.😃

[@thelaurensshow]

Nana is such a good dog. She is so patient with zed

[@NanaBorderCollie]

Lauren Lee Nana is so gentle with any animal I bring home. :)

[@elinakarlsson8559]

And thanks for the information about him :) good to know

[@javonehicks4104]

Cuteness overload

[@chihuahuasrlife]

Omg its so adorable thank you for this video!!:)

[@Mysikrysa]

Very cute! And he can jump very far! :)

[@RainbowCow8D]

Aww, hes adorable!

[@apatikan]

I've never seen anything like him... HE'S ADORABLE!

[@avacdunn]

Your animals are AMAZING!!!😀

[@Socksshoesandhats]

I wish I had the chance to befriend a coati! Zed is very lucky indeed!

[@animallover5626]

I honestly didn't even know that animal existed, I can't wait to see future videos you include him in!

[@thegymnastics2931]

Btw...Nana, your tricks are amazing!!

[@chihuahuabulldog]

Zed is ADORABLE, as are most babies. His antics are precious, in short clips. :-) Thank you for all the information in the description. I love that you are so dedicated to animals and educations. Your loving way of training is evident in how all your critters get along so well. Thank you for sharing your wonderful videos.

[@avacdunn]

You have encouraged me to try and teach my guinea pig tricks thanks😊🐹

[@chickenpermission6941]

Zed. love the name, and the video!

[@MsPipStick]

Aww Nana is so tolerant

[@MrSausage72]

thank you for your videos.....they are amazing :)

[@fahmidakhatun6787]

awesome first! he is adorable!

[@Hannuh22Elizuhbeth_]

Love this video it was amazing love seeing all the different animals keep up the amazing work 👍👍👍

[@Barbara-ud8cf]

OMG! He is so sweet 😊

[@TammyHowardSassyTamGem]

Adorable... Happy & nice to met ya Zed😀 Hope to see a lot more from ya!

[@annamateiciucova4834]

Zed is VERY FUNNY:D good job!:)

[@sofia1116]

So cute!

[@elariai4504]

Aww! You have such talented and beautiful pets! Welcome to the family Zed!! :)

[@wintersonnenscheinchen1515]

Adorable! :)

[@TKCAnimations]

ahhh! I swear you must live in the land of the animals. The diversity is amazing! Your respect and dedication for all of them is incredible :). Keep up the good work.

[@lindabrown7374]

Zed is so adorable! Nana & Kaiser are so good with him. My Snoopy Joe (a Border Collie mix) is very good with lots of other animals.

[@skylove9630]

He is cute, I love the name 2!

[@auntjemima1631]

You live such an amazing life! You have so much patience with your animals and love it's amazing, I absolutely adore your videos and animals keep up with the great work!

[@valiapavlou]

Aww i have never seen something cuter than that! Actually i have never seen an animal like that... 😆😅🤗😭🤗

[@anaperezberdasco1520]

So cute!!!!

[@CandySecks]

Awwww!! I just got back from a trip to Mexico and these guys were everywhere there! Awesome little animals :)

[@whovian7777]

zed is so cute! and I love how the other animals in your house seem to be very calm and patient around him

[@janellepolson9909]

He's so cute!!!!!!!

[@josefinasporerova9496]

He is very very cute!!!!

[@iva5190]

he is sooooooooooo cuteee!!! 😍😍❤️❤️

[@GabrielleDuvoisin]

your animals are always looking nice and happy, it's amazing 😊 every video is a piece of joy and happiness 😄 kisses from France !

[@majesticwolf5653]

I'm a huge fan of nana. I really hope to see more videos

[@lizritchie]

Great video. Tks. Had never seen a coatimundi.

[@zenithbrick5837]

Hi NanaBorderCollie I'm a huge fan of you thaks for your videos it always make me happy

[@kimmeliankm]

I love all your animals, how you treat them and most of all the tricks that you show them, I have rats and is soooo difficult.

[@PaulCedar]

I'm glad you put the disclaimer/warning on the end. I had a coati for two years. He was a very curious animal that didn't like being left in a cage (even a big cage) for a long time. Although at the time, I was working at home and had a lot of time for Monty, it was never as much time as he wanted. Because coatimundis are extremely curious and very strong, they can be very destructive. (He once tore all the floor tiles out of my basement.) Coati claws are over an inch long and attached directly to the bones. If you are out for a walk and they are scared by a dog, they will climb up your body in an instant. Later, you will find lots of holes in your clothes and maybe your skin too. They are amazing animals, but he finally became too much for me and I donated him to a wild animal nature center for children. Upon arrival, he fell madly in love with their other coati. I miss Monty very much.

[@NanaBorderCollie]

+Paul Cedar I am sorry to hear that you had to part with your beloved Monty. You did the right thing finding someone who could continue to provide for his daily needs for the remainder of his life. So many people are unaware of the challenges of living with this animal, and I am continually astounded at the number of people who think that their cuteness alone is reason enough to acquire one. I had one individual at an educational event Zed attended assure me that, since she has owned two dogs and three cats, she was more than prepared and experienced enough to own a coati. I explained to her, as you mentioned, that coatis have extremely long and razor-sharp non-retractable claws that they use when climbing on their people (which they do continually, even if they are not frightened), they can be incredibly destructive (cats and dogs generally do not remove light switch plates from all the walls, burrow into the drywall, peel off wallpaper, remove keys from keyboards, etc.), they require a tremendous amount of one-on-one attention with their people daily and CANNOT be kept in a cage, and they can and will bite if they feel it is necessary to convey their mood, or during rough play which is typically accompanied by scratching. Their level of intelligence is out of this world. If Zed wants to climb onto a table and there are no chairs, he will wait until I am seated on a chair at the table first, then he will start scratching at one of the light switch plates to get my attention. Usually I will get up to see what he is doing, but Zed immediately stops and makes a mad dash for the chair I have just emptied, then uses it as a springboard to get onto the table. Living with a coati is like living with a highly intelligent, caffeinated two-year-old child for the rest of their lives, which can be up to 20 years. They are not pets; they are a lifestyle.

[@margherita.corvaglia1934]

I'm falling in love with Zed! Congratss!!

[@sarahsherwood8530]

He has such a smooshy face! :D

[@hamsterclub1242]

So sweet!!!!!

[@desertcafe]

Good luck to you all. I look forward to watching and reading more of Zed's adventures as part of your family. Also, best regards to Nana.

[@PeanutGuineaPig]

Zed is adorable-you must have your hands full keeping up with his crazy antics! He seems to get along perfectly with the rest of the Gang. We're looking forward to seeing more of him in future videos! :)

[@infamousfuzzle1869]

I love this one! Hes amazing. Congratz on the new pet

[@alyssaduke3687]

I feel like you are going to do amazing things with zed! I hope you have fun they are great animals

[@kimmobley333]

Awe, cute new friend. Can't wait to see what kind of fun things you teach Zed. :)

[@mia-tg4rq]

This is awesome! (first) You are amazing I love dogs and your my hero

[@mia-tg4rq]

lovemyminkAJ ps hes so cute!

[@thegymnastics2931]

First comment!! So cute. Have fun training Zed!!!

[@abbey9916]

He's so cute!!!!

[@maty___7882]

Oh nice pet very cute ..... :)

[@tiptoesnowflakewahle6962]

Awesome! You guys have some very interesting pets!!!! I love them! I love Nana and Kiser! Have a great back to school time!

[@HoneyBloom2]

He is so cute! And thank you for sharing these awesome moments with your animals. Greetings from germany :)

[@kikinabervisova2237]

Cute 👍👍💜💜💜😘😘

[@dinnisky7371]

he is so cute.. he reminds me of my coati i had.. her name was chichi .. my family had her from she was just a baby.. she was treated like part of the family, drank from a baby bottle too.. she lived wit us for more than 5 years.. till 1 christmas when she was killed.... i felt like i was gonna die with her... i miss her oh so dearly.. its been almost 5 years.. WE MISS YOU CHICHI LUZ.. 😢😢💜💜

[@NanaBorderCollie]

@ Simeon Gavalov - I live in Canada, yes. The last letter of the alphabet is pronounced "zed" in all English-speaking countries with the exception of the United States, where it is pronounced "zee". Regardless, his name is still pronounced "Zed" since that is his name, not referencing the letter "Z".

[@stephaniewilfong558]

baba is just so patient

[@jasmine5038]

omg!!!!!!!! hes sooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kyaracresci5294]

Very interesting and cute animal :) never heard of one before

[@mysam49ify]

Omg, u hav SO MANY pets!!!!!!!!😄😄😄😄

[@Jlynn1998]

hes adorable!!!!

[@luisafritsch9881]

He's so sweeeeet♡ I love him!!

[@madelyn2827]

love it!!!

[@thelifeasaanimallover4126]

so cute !!!!!

[@lejink]

Another animal in the zoo? Heheh Love your videos, hope to see more of Zed!

[@lana_0667]

Cute!!

[@Charlotte-uc2xc]

Omg ur an amazing person!!!! I love it!!!!!

[@thedogpawsquad]

Cute!!!!

[@hannaht7324]

First commment! Yay! Zed is very talented and adorable (:

[@synchrollama3538]

As a volunteer at my local wildlife rehab center I have helped raise raccoons for several seasons. They are incredibly intelligent (destructive as well) and I can't imagine living with one. It looks like Nana and Kaiser put up with him, too.

[@NanaBorderCollie]

+Alyssa Carson I, too, have been working with raccoons for several years as a provincially licensed wildlife rehabilitator. I have seven raccoons at my wildlife facility presently. And yes, they are incredibly destructive... much more than the coatis.

[@olafvanraalte8256]

Wow so cute

[@baraboza7227]

This is so cute and beautifull you are amazing trainer :)

[@lisayoon4825]

Aww I love the way he played with nala!

[@awildrengarappeared8419]

Oh my god! SO cute :D