WrightwoodCalif.com Forum

Public Forums => San Gabriel Mtns Flora - Fauna => Topic started by: Wrightwood on Mar 03, 03, 02:45:50 AM

Title: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: Wrightwood on Mar 03, 03, 02:45:50 AM

A lot of patience finally paid off.

The motion sensor sounded this morning at 1:10am
as the Ring Tail Cat returned after a months absence.

The video was captured on VHS tape using an
Infrared Illuminator and night vision camera.

Forum Members can access movie files from this page:
Click Here (http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=NaturalHistory;action=display;num=1043553020;start=0;#11)


(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/ringtail2.JPG)

(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/ringtail3.JPG)

(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/ringtail4.JPG)

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: headchat on Mar 03, 03, 03:07:22 AM

Oh my gawsh!!  Just look at that guy.  I've never seen one before.
Thanks Wrightwood, these are fantastic photos!

This one is definitely a candidate for our homeland security kitty brigade!  Send out the draft notice!

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Mountain_Witch on Mar 03, 03, 05:08:30 AM

Too Cool! 8)

I was wondering if you still had that camera going, since I didn't see the banner for it anymore.

Your hard work and pateince has really payed off at capturing that clever critter on film. Excellent work.

A true blue Wrightwood resident. I just hope he doesn't fall prey to any of our domestic pets. That would be so sad. Then again, I read somewhere that they will occasionaly prey on cats.
;)

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: WWMtnGal on Mar 03, 03, 05:57:37 AM

Webmaster,
    How absolutely adorable that is! The pictures are so cute and that cat is awesome!  Great job!

MtnGal

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: rmekemson on Mar 03, 03, 08:17:08 AM

Vewy, vewy nice!

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Mikeswave on Mar 03, 03, 11:54:38 AM

What does anyone  know about this animal? ???

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: rmekemson on Mar 03, 03, 02:00:17 PM

The ringtail is in the same family as the raccoon and coati (procyonidae) and is also known as the miner's cat, civet cat and cacomistle.

It's got a large range going from southwestern Oregon, thru most of California, southern Nevada, parts of Utah, western Colorado and into the midwest.

They can grow to be about two feet to two and a half feet long (including the long tail) and weight around two to two and a half pounds.

They live in narrow dens padded with moss, grass, or leaves in tree holes, in cliffs, between or under rocks, hollow trees, stumps or logs.

They are omniverous eating berries, fruits, small rodents, insects and amphibians; and, as evident by the photos, are nocturnal.  

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Wrightwood on Mar 03, 03, 02:05:09 PM

Mikeswave,

We have a couple of pages of information in the Natural History Forum.

http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=NaturalHistory;action=display;num=1043558775

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Wrightwood on Mar 04, 03, 02:53:38 AM

The animal couldn't resist the suet feeder and returned again for the 2nd morning in a row.

The Ring Tail Cat set the motion sensor off at 2:10am this morning and stayed for about 6 minutes.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Nolena on Mar 04, 03, 02:59:19 AM

Very nice photos & video. It ALMOST makes me want to get up in the middle of the night to see what's at the bird feeders.   ;)  How rare are these critters?

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: dragongirl on Mar 04, 03, 04:05:09 AM

???  Maybe Ringtail lives really close I wonder if there are two and will have a family to bring to the porch?  I've never seen such a wonder nor heard of them and I've been here 20 years or so.This was great to see something so unusual.  Great job Wakes me up to nature!  

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Little_Fox on Mar 04, 03, 08:10:13 AM

Wow!! Those photos are great, and so are the videos. He is SO CUTE! ;__;

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Wrightwood on Mar 04, 03, 08:50:39 AM

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: WWMtnGal on Mar 04, 03, 09:08:42 AM

That cat is so cute!  I have never seen anything like it and I have shared the website with others so they may see it and it is just too cute!

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Little_Fox on Mar 04, 03, 09:09:22 AM

Hmmm..good point, Admin. ;) I wouldn't know how to tell if it was male or female unless I really studied up on the animal. I'm much better with birds, it's easy to tell with birds. ;)

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: BirdSong on Mar 04, 03, 10:43:13 AM

When WW originally posted the Ringtail Cat pictures, I tried to find out how to tell a male from a female in the books I have. But no luck.

Today, I tried an image searach on the web and came up with these links that identify the sex of the animal. Most images do not say male or female.

Identified as males:
http://members.shaw.ca/petitepaws/ringtail/rngtl2_1.jpg
http://www.llu.edu/llu/dentistry/dentalgram/july99/images/ringtail-trap.jpg


Identified as females:
http://members.shaw.ca/petitepaws/ringtail/rngtl3_1.jpg
http://www.taxidermyart.net/instructors/images/walker1b-title.jpg
http://animalpicturesarchive.com/animal/a6/Ringtail_Cat-babies_on_lap-by_Janet_Mercer.jpg

It looks like the female face might have stronger markings. She uses more eyeshadow and mascara, right? See what you think.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: rmekemson on Mar 04, 03, 02:41:15 PM

According to my National Audubon books, there is no difference in the colorations or markings between the male and female.  Therefore, like a domestic cat or dog, the only way you can tell is...

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Ensen on Mar 04, 03, 04:05:25 PM

:o

It almost looks like a cat and a racoon...... got married.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Wrightwood on Mar 06, 03, 01:52:36 AM

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: oldsub on Mar 07, 03, 07:49:58 AM

I shared your pictures with a group of 7-8 year olds. They declared the cat to be fiction.  :D  No kidding ;D

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Wrightwood on Mar 14, 03, 05:37:56 AM

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Wrightwood on Mar 14, 03, 05:52:29 AM

The motion sensor sounded this morning at 1:50am, 3-14-03 as the Ring Tail Cat
returned after last being seen on 3-6-03.
The video was captured on VHS tape using an Infrared Illuminator and night vision camera.

The movies can be download and require Windows Media Player to be installed and working.

1.3 meg file
ftp://http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/2ndsuet.wmv

1.8 meg file
ftp://http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/Slither1.wmv

3.5 meg file
ftp://http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/eyesYawn1.wmv  

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: BigDog on Mar 14, 03, 01:43:02 PM

Hey Webmaster,
thanks for the fine video... that is better quality than those "World's Dumbest Criminal" shows....

Thanks again for such a great job!

BigDog

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: oldsub on Mar 15, 03, 06:10:21 AM

Many thanks. The kids are thrilled--but still shaking their heads in disbelief. They loved hearing from you, too.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: rmekemson on Mar 15, 03, 08:31:36 AM

Hey Oldsub, it's a good thing we don't have duckbilled platypusses, or is it platypusi? up here.  The kids wouldn't believe those either.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: oldsub on Mar 16, 03, 02:03:23 AM

I'm going with platypi. Truthfully, I can't believe you brought that up because --well guess what animal was featured in their "Weekly Reader" on Friday ???

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: rmekemson on Mar 16, 03, 10:08:23 AM

Well oldsub, it just goes to prove I'm psychotic, or is it psychic?

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: Wrightwood on May 27, 03, 08:22:53 AM

After months since the last Ring Tail Cat sighting, todays trip to the post office was interesting.

Just after noon today, I went out back to get in the Jeep for a post office run. Out of the corner of my eye I saw what appeared to be a cat like object take off from the wood pile. I drove the Jeep in the direction the cat headed, got out ran across the fenced yard to get a closer look.

The cat headed towards the back fence corner and as I chased it I noticed a unique striped tail as it leaped on top of the 6 foot chain link fence. The movements the cat made were not that of a house cat. I truly believe that I saw the Ring Tail Cat again. This time in broad daylight.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat Returns
Post by: WWMtnGal on May 27, 03, 09:19:23 AM

Wow that is so cool Webmaster!  A daylight sighting of the Ring Tail Cat!  

Title: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: lcadder on Oct 13, 10, 09:17:38 PM

Like Toolman said, it is rare we don't see some type of "big game" (Deer, Bear, Bighorn, Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Lemur, etc.) when out there in the forest.  As he mentioned, we usually put at least 70 - 90 miles a day on the truck when out on patrol and that obviously increases our chances of seeing them..

LEMUR??

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: RobertW on Oct 13, 10, 09:57:13 PM

Quote from: lcadder on Oct 13, 10, 09:17:38 PM

.

LEMUR??

Yes, Ringtailed.  They are arboreal, chiefly nocturnal mammals of the family Lemuridae, usually having large eyes, a foxlike face, and woolly fur.  They look like a cross between a monkey and a cat.

I believe "Wrightwood" has a picture of one drinking from his "guzzler" a few years back.  My sighting was between Elk Camp and Jackson Lake.

We also have porcupines in the Angeles National Forest, but I haven't seen any of those.  They sleep in the trees at night and are primarily noctural like the Lemurs. But one of these days...

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: superMom on Oct 13, 10, 11:24:50 PM

I'll have whatever RobertW is drinking... (Just what does Wrightwood have coming out of that guzzler???)......then I will be ready to go out and look for those porcupines in the trees ;D :laugh: :laugh:

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: ForestGal on Oct 13, 10, 11:38:14 PM

Quote from: superMom on Oct 13, 10, 11:24:50 PM

I'll have whatever RobertW is drinking... (Just what does Wrightwood have coming out of that guzzler???)

Kinda reminds me of that famous line in the movie, "When Harry Met Sally"...... ;D

Dang, I never knew that porcupines can climb trees!  :o  But, I really don't know a whole lot about them.  Better study up, I guess.   ;D

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: RobertW on Oct 14, 10, 01:00:34 PM

Quote from: superMom on Oct 13, 10, 11:24:50 PM

I'll have whatever RobertW is drinking... (Just what does Wrightwood have coming out of that guzzler???)......then I will be ready to go out and look for those porcupines in the trees ;D :laugh: :laugh:

LOL!!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  I know what I saw... ;D

They are very hard to see because they are very shy and mostly nocturnal.  Here's the picture I was thinking of.  It was on "Wrightwood's" porch.  Not a good picture, but he said he did have a tail like that in the next picture:

(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/ferret1.JPG)


(http://www.erikvp.com/Images09/ring-tailed-lemur.jpg)

As for porcupines living in trees, here is a quote from the National Geographic site:

"The porcupines found in North and South America are good climbers and spend much of their time in trees. Some even have prehensile (gripping) tails to aid in climbing. The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood. They eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to invade campgrounds and chew on canoe paddles. North American porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds."

I'm not crazy...  I'm not crazy...   ;D   ;D

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: Wrightwood on Oct 14, 10, 01:42:37 PM

(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/Yawn2.JPG)


The motion sensor sounded this morning at 1:50am, 3-14-03 as the Ring Tail Cat
returned after last being seen on 3-6-03.
The video was captured on VHS tape using an Infrared Illuminator and night vision camera.

The movies can be download and require Windows Media Player to be installed and working.

1.3 meg file
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/2ndsuet.wmv

1.8 meg file
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/Slither1.wmv

3.5 meg file
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/eyesYawn1.wmv

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: Joe Schmoe on Oct 14, 10, 05:54:31 PM

No sh*t?!

I wonder if that's what I've seen at night on PCH.  I assumed the little cat-looking things were foxes.  Over many years, I've only seen them on one or two occasions, but they have always been at the very edge of my headlight's reach so I couldn't see much.  As a matter of fact, my GF and I were up there at night not long ago and I told her, "If you see something that looks like a cat, with a bushy tail, it's a fox."  I had no idea these even existed!  I wonder if they come down to the roadside to pick up roadkill moths...

I dunno...that tail shouldn't be hard to spot...maybe they really were foxes.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: Vicky on Oct 14, 10, 09:21:58 PM

How in the world did we get Lemurs?  They only live in the wild in Madagascar!  I just don't think that is really a Lemur - maybe some odd squirrel, but a Lemur?  Lemurs are primates, and we don't have any wild primates in the U.S.

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: Vicky on Oct 14, 10, 09:30:55 PM

Found it!  NOT a Lemur - this is a "ring tailed cat"!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring-tailed_Cat

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: FIGHT ON on Oct 15, 10, 07:34:14 AM

This one is gonna be in town tomorrow! ;D
(http://img.skitch.com/20101015-d23kuy2m639ke5ajgbdqij93xf.jpg)

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: RobertW on Oct 15, 10, 10:35:50 AM

Quote from: whitegold4vk on Oct 14, 10, 09:30:55 PM

Found it!  NOT a Lemur - this is a "ring tailed cat"!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring-tailed_Cat

Thanks for clearing that up!   :2thumbsup:

Title: Re: Ring Tail Cat
Post by: Wrightwood on Jun 01, 20, 08:51:14 AM

I noticed some Facebook postings about a cat & raccoon animal in Wrightwood.


(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/Yawn2.JPG)


The motion sensor sounded this morning at 1:50am, 3-14-03 as the Ring Tail Cat
returned after last being seen on 3-6-03.
The video was captured on VHS tape using an Infrared Illuminator and night vision camera.

The movies can be download and require Windows Media Player to be installed and working.

1.3 meg file
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/2ndsuet.wmv

1.8 meg file
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/Slither1.wmv

3.5 meg file
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forumimg/nature/eyesYawn1.wmv