Ringtail

This is pretty cool. I had a tip from a friend that there might be a ringtail living in this particular canyon. This is a nocturnal animal, related somewhat to raccoons, that is very rarely seen. They aren't endangered, and are found throughout the southwest, but a combination of their habits and preferred habitat keep them out of sight of people. They are extremely agile, good jumpers, and eat just about anything - including insects, mice, and berries. Legend has it miners used to keep them around to rid their cabins of rodents, giving them the nickname "miner's cat". In size, they are smaller than a fox, and larger than a squirrel. This one seems to like the small pool of water at the base of a cascade in this narrow, sheltered canyon.