Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus
Ringtails are related to raccoons, and look very much like them. They are elusive and very nocturnal animals, believed to be active during the middle of the night. When hunting in brushy places they move swiftly but very quietly. The ringtails usually spend the day in their permanent den. However, they may come out in the daytime when frightened from the nest. They stay away from urban areas but have been found in mountain cabins.
Family:
Procyonidae (coatis, raccoons, and relatives)
Description:
Similar to a small raccoon, but with a slender build; grayish tan with white rings around very large, dark eyes. The face is fox-like. The bushy tail is longer than its body, banded with black rings that do not meet underneath. Soles of the feet mostly or partly furred; claws are partly retractable. Body mass of both sexes from throughout the geographic range of Bassariscus astutus ranges from 2-3 pounds. Head and body length is 12 to 16 inches and tail length adds an additional is 12 to 17 inches to their overall size.
Habitat:
They prefer habitats with rocky outcroppings, canyons, or talus slopes and can be found in semi-arid country, deserts, chaparral, oak woodlands, pinyon pine woodlands, juniper woodlands and montane conifer forests. They are most commonly found at elevations from sea level to 4500 feet. They occasionally can be found as high as 9000 feet.
Range:
Ringtails can be found from southwestern Oregon and eastern Kansas south through California, southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Baja California and northern Mexico.
Diet:
Ringtails are omnivorous, but show strong preference for animal matter. Principal animal matter food items include rodents, rabbits, squirrels, and insects, however, birds, lizards, snakes and frogs are also eaten. Plant matter eaten includes acorns, mistletoe, juniper berries, persimmons, wild figs and other fruits.
Breeding:
Little is known about their breeding habits. We do know that mating occurs in late winter; 3 to 4 kits are born in May or June. They have permanent dens among large boulders near canyon bottoms or in hollow trees.
Comments:
Ringtail are sometimes wrongly called ringtail-cats or miners cats. They are not related to cats at all. Their relatives include the coati and the raccoon.
Photo: James T. Johnson © California Academy of Sciences
mtm 2-10-2021
Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus
Ringtails are related to raccoons, and look very much like them. They are elusive and very nocturnal animals, believed to be active during the middle of the night. When hunting in brushy places they move swiftly but very quietly. The ringtails usually spend the day in their permanent den. However, they may come out in the daytime when frightened from the nest. They stay away from urban areas but have been found in mountain cabins.
Family:
Procyonidae (coatis, raccoons, and relatives)
Description:
Similar to a small raccoon, but with a slender build; grayish tan with white rings around very large, dark eyes. The face is fox-like. The bushy tail is longer than its body, banded with black rings that do not meet underneath. Soles of the feet mostly or partly furred; claws are partly retractable. Body mass of both sexes from throughout the geographic range of Bassariscus astutus ranges from 2-3 pounds. Head and body length is 12 to 16 inches and tail length adds an additional is 12 to 17 inches to their overall size.
Habitat:
They prefer habitats with rocky outcroppings, canyons, or talus slopes and can be found in semi-arid country, deserts, chaparral, oak woodlands, pinyon pine woodlands, juniper woodlands and montane conifer forests. They are most commonly found at elevations from sea level to 4500 feet. They occasionally can be found as high as 9000 feet.
Range:
Ringtails can be found from southwestern Oregon and eastern Kansas south through California, southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Baja California and northern Mexico.
Diet:
Ringtails are omnivorous, but show strong preference for animal matter. Principal animal matter food items include rodents, rabbits, squirrels, and insects, however, birds, lizards, snakes and frogs are also eaten. Plant matter eaten includes acorns, mistletoe, juniper berries, persimmons, wild figs and other fruits.
Breeding:
Little is known about their breeding habits. We do know that mating occurs in late winter; 3 to 4 kits are born in May or June. They have permanent dens among large boulders near canyon bottoms or in hollow trees.
Comments:
Ringtail are sometimes wrongly called ringtail-cats or miners cats. They are not related to cats at all. Their relatives include the coati and the raccoon.
Photo: James T. Johnson © California Academy of Sciences
mtm 2-10-2021