Look what moved in....

[Hallyx]

Look what moved into our pantry. Now I know what we don't have mice anymore.

[Eggbert]

Haha what a cutie.

[registereduser]

what is it? besides cute

[thekinetic]

Looks like a sugar glider or a baby raccoon?

[Olympia]

Good lord Hally get that out of your house!
What is that? A ringtail cat? Thought you were further north?
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[Skyewillow]

I don't know what it is, but feel free to send it here to me if you ever want to get it out of your house! ;)

[fleetfish]

What on earth is that thing! It's so cute! Are they rare?

[Hallyx]

Yes, Olympia, that is indeed a Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus, meaning "cunning little fox"). How did you know?

One foot to 18in. long plus a one foot to 18in. tail, it's a Procyonid, related to the raccoon and coatimundi. Sometimes called a "miner's cat" because it can be tamed (like a raccoon), it's a ferocious mouser and rodent predator.

They range all over Mexico, Texas, Arizona (state mammal), the Great Basin to California and, yes, even up into our little corner of Southwestern Oregon at the extreme edge of its range.

I can tell when he's around because he's a little smelly. But I'm loathe to get rid of him because, well....I don't know how. Besides he keeps my burgeoning chipmunk population under control.

[Skyewillow]

and he's darned cute!

[Laki]

OMG what a cute thing!! I would probably mess myself if I found that in my pantry to be honest (but that's because Newfoundland doesn't even have raccoons) Wow, ringtails are SO cute!!! What can you feed it? Or what has it been eating?