Posted 10 years ago
packrat-pl…
(310 items)
I know this is not what some would consider part of a collection, but I thought I would share it anyway, because I am quite excited to get these pics. As many of you know, I have been setting my Stealth Cam up in the woods near my house. I set it up the other night and put some left over pork rib bones as bait. Look what showed up, a Ringtail. You almost never see these guys, and pictures in the wild are exceptionally hard to get.
Here is some info on this guy.
""The Ringtail is a cat-sized carnivore resembling a small fox with a long raccoon like tail. Its bushy tail is flattened and nearly as long as the head and body, with alternating black and white rings.
These animals are almost wholly nocturnal and spend the majority of the day sleeping in their dens. They leave their dens at night to feed. Ringtails eat a wide variety of foods. Birds, rodents, carrion, reptiles and amphibians, and insects such as grasshoppers and crickets form the bulk of their diet, although they also eat native fruits and berries as well." From Texas Parks and Wildlife.
" It’s an active creature and can leap like a squirrel and use its sharp claws to climb walls like a spider. These acrobatic skills help the animal hunt. But since it emerges from its den only at night, few humans ever see the Ringtail at work. And perhaps that’s just as well. Here’s why: First, the Ringtail ambushes its prey (anything from a toad to a rabbit is fair game). Then, using its forepaws, it pins the animal down and, like a furry Count Dracula, administers a deadly bite to the neck. The meal proper then commences, usually with the Ringtail devouring its victim’s head."
You never know what lives around you until you set one of these up...
I really do love these very much , they are so cute and beautiful!!
where are you located? i saw one of these late at night many years ago - here in Oakland, CA! they were supposedly extirpated here in the coastal range around 90 yrs ago, but i'm sure that's what i saw.
I live in the Texas Hill Country about 60 miles NW of San Antonio.
Thank you very much SEAN68, aghcollect, ho2cultcha, vetraio50 & melaniej ....
Your very welcome packrat!!
They call them 'babisuri' in Baja California, Mexico. Lovely and rare animals. Keep feeding him!! :)
Now this is amazing! Did you ever think about getting a job with National Geographic?
Lovely animal!
Thank you very much Trey, BelleEpoque, pops52, petey, Nicefice, gargoylecollector, Celiene, martika & brunswick................
Thank you very much aura...........