Common Name
Ringtail, Bassarisk, or Cacomistle
Order
Carnivora
Family
Procyonidae
Species Name
Bassariscus astutus
Status
Common
States
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Louisiana
New Mexico
Nevada
Oklahoma
Oregon
Texas
Utah
Wyoming
Distribution
Southwestern US from the Gulf of Mexico to the west coast.
Notes
Nocturnal and seldom seen. Good climber of rocks and trees. Solitary and territorial, but can be densely populated in good habitat. Tail is striped only on the dorsal (upper) surface. Found in rocky areas. Eat small animals including insects; also eat f