Biography
Ringtails are relatives of the raccoon and inhabit desert canyons, especially areas with rocky outcrops, caves and mine shafts. Strictly nocturnal, ringtails use their large eyes and keen sense of smell to locate food, including rodents, birds, invertebrates, and plant material. They are excellent mousers. Early settlers, having discovered this fact, would keep them as pets to keep their cabins free of mice. They came to be known as "miner's cats." Ringtails are skilled climbers and leapers, and can negotiate steep canyon walls or trees, using their agile feet and long tails for balance. Predators of ringtails include great horned owls, bobcats and coyotes.
Our Animal's Story
We currently have two ringtails in our nocturnal exhibit. Remington, the male, arrived at ZooAmerica in November 2025 from a wildlife rehabilitation center in California. He was previously found in a home as an illegal pet. His estimated birth date is summer 2024. Periwinkle, the female, was born at ZooAmerica on July 26, 2018 and she moved to other AZA accredited facilities before returning to ZooAmerica in February 2026 on a breeding recommendation. These two ringtails have been paired on recommendation by the Ringtail Species Survival Plan.
