The Ringail was officially designated as the State Mammal of Arizona in 1986. They also inhabit the desert regions of Northern Mexico and Baja California. But there are Ringtail species that extend into Texas, Kansas and Oregon. They primarily exist in the southwestern states of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and southeastern California. Besides, they can become very noisy at night by barking, hissing and growls. Some farmers and ranchers deem them pests because they attack chickens and invade fruit orchards. The primary predators of ringtails are fox, coyotes, bobcats and large owls. In the early days, miners and ranchers would let them have interior access to barns and cabins to control rat and mice populations. Ringtail cats sleep during daylight hours nesting in dens that may be located in rock crevices, hollow logs, brush piles and even in nearby buildings. If they are nesting near farms and ranches, they will invade chicken coops. Its diet primarily consists of a variety of small mammals, reptiles and birds but is supplemented with fruit and plant life. They are able to descend at steep angles by rotating their hind feet 180 degrees enabling firm grips and quick changes in direction.īeing nocturnal, they hunt at night with keen smell and eyesight. Ringtails are very skilled climbers as they scurry up and down canyon rocks, boulders, trees and even cactus. The female will bring them food to the den for the first 2 months at which time the little ones begin foraging for food with mom. The ringtail has been described as cat or fox-like in body size with short legs and an immense tail. It gives live birth after a gestation period of around 50 days. Physical Characteristics: The ringtail most closely resembles the American marten (Martes americana) with exception of the long, annulated tail (Neuwall and Toweill 1988). The Ringtail cat is mostly solitary choosing to be alone except during mating season between February and May. In the Phoenix area, you may be fortunate to experience them as you hike up the trail at Piestewa Peak during late evenings through the dark of night. Its usual habitat is desert regions and make their homes in hard to get places around rock piles, large boulder outcroppings and canyon walls. The Ringtail Cat is rarely seen because it is nocturnal, sleeping by day and hunting at night. Its long bushy tail has distinctive, alternating black and white rings from which it gets its name. The ringtail measures 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 centimeters) long with a tail of about the same length, and weighs less than 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). The eyes are large and black, each surrounded by a patch of light fur. This beautiful animal has a unique appearance that resembles a combined look of a small fox, a fluffy raccoon and yes, a domestic house cat. Slimmer than a house cat but more robust than a weasel, the ringtail also somewhat resembles a small fox. It actually belongs to the raccoon family. The kits open their eyes after a month and will hunt for themselves after four months.The Ringtail Cat is sleek and cunning and somewhat "cat-like" but is not a cat at all. Ringtails mate in the spring and the male will procure food for the female. These areas can include riparian canyons, caves, and mine shafts. The ringtail prefers to live in rocky habitats associated with water. The ringtail also enjoys juniper, black berries, persimmon, prickly pear, and fruit in general. The ringtail eats insects, lizards, small rodents, birds, and small mammals such as rabbits, mice, rats and ground squirrels, and occasionally will also eat fish, snakes and carrion. Much like the common raccoon, the ringtail is nocturnal and mainly solitary. The eyes are large and purple, each surrounded by a patch of light fur. The ringtail is buff to dark brown in color with white under parts and a flashy black and white striped tail that has 14 -16 white and black stripes, and is longer than the rest of its body. The ringtail is a mammal of the raccoon family.
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