At the Epstein Family Forest in Oregon’s Siskiyou Mountains, trail cameras recorded the ringtail on the move.
Despite being common like its fellow cousin, the raccoon, this creature is rarely studied, nocturnal, and smaller than a house cat. In the following images, the ringtail can be seen standing on its hind legs and surveying the area.
Image credits: Elster Photography
“Landowners Bill and Sarah Epstein have spent decades restoring a heavily damaged forest and subdivision of country homes into a model for conservation and fire-resilient, ecologically managed forest.”
The ringtail is a small carnivore that is known for confusing people about its identity. It’s described as a cross between a fox and a cat, but not much larger than a squirrel. It has once been referred to as “miner’s cat”, as miners in the 19th century used the animal for rodent control.
Despite being native to North America, the ringtails are secret and elusive creatures that are full of mysteries.
Credits: Trail Camera Captures One of North America’s Most Elusive Mammals: The Ringtail