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 one ringtail and he lives in one of our nocturnal exhibits. He arrived at ZooAmerica in November 2025 from a wildlife rehabilitation center in California. His estimated birth date is November of 2024.
