The ringtail, named for its bushy, banded tail, is a small, nocturnal omnivore of the western U.S. and northern Mexico. Extremely agile, these cousins of the raccoon favor semi-arid areas with rock outcrops and open woodlands; there they hunt small mammals, birds and lizards and seasonally feast on nuts and berries. Since they are active primarily at night, ringtails are seldom encountered by hikers and campers.
Though often called ringtail cats, due to their size and behavior, they are not felines; once domesticated by miners to control rodents, they are also known as miner cats. Ringtails are solitary for most of the year but pair off in late winter or early spring to mate; the litter of kits (usually 2-4) are born in late spring and stay with their mother through summer. Dens are usually placed in small caves or rock crevices but ringtails are superb climbers and often rest in trees.
Natural predators of ringtails include hawks, owls, coyotes, fox and bobcats. Those fortunate enough to escape these hunters often live 7-8 years in the wild and have been known to live 15 years or more in captivity.
