Despite being the state mammal of Arizona, it’s not exactly easy to see a ringtail cat (Bassariscus astutus) there. That’s because these adorable animals are not only nocturnal but also quite shy. However, one Arizona hiker stumbled across an elusive ringtail cat and shared a video of it online. The Instagram community loved her footage, and many people note that they’ve never even heard of these animals before.
“This made my day!” wrote Jacqueline Hurst in her Instagram post sharing the video. “This is only the second time I have seen a ringtail cat. They are so beautiful! They’re usually gone by sunrise and don’t like humans. I’m assuming this one was hanging around and is unusually brave because it has found some food at the peak. What a way to start the day! I got so many videos and photos. He hung around for a while.”
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Even though they’re called ringtail cats (or sometimes “miner’s cats”), these small mammals aren’t cats at all. They’re related to raccoons and coatis.
“Though fairly common at Saguaro National Park, [ringtails] are secretive and rarely show themselves,” writes the National Park Service. “They live in rocky canyons and den in caves, rocky crevices, hollow trees, and sometimes buildings. They are great leapers and climbers and use their long, banded tails for balance. They also have semi-retractable claws and can climb headfirst down cliffs and trees.”
See the cute ringtail cat that hung out with an Arizona hiker here:
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