Ringtail

desert · night hunter · masked face

Close raccoon cousin. Ringtails belong to the same family as raccoons, but they're slimmer and have longer tails. They're perfectly built for climbing trees and rocky cliffs in the dry American West.

Night-time explorer. Ringtails hunt and explore when the sun goes down, hunting insects, small rodents, and birds. Their big eyes help them see in the dark like little furry ninjas.

Arizona's special mammal. The ringtail is so important to Arizona that it's the official state mammal. This honors the animal's place in the desert ecosystems of the American Southwest.

Master climbers. With long tails for balance and sharp claws, ringtails are incredible at scrambling up rocks and trees. They can even run headfirst down trees by gripping with their tail.

Protected in some states. While ringtails are doing well overall, California fully protects them and Oregon treats them as an important species to keep safe for the future.